COVER
Hoodlums Wage War Against #EndSARS Protesters
By Martin Paul, Abuja and Dan Amasingha, Minna
In what looked as a twist, hoodlums in major cities of the nation have begun attacks against #EndSARS protesters across the country, calling on them to stop protesting since the outfit has been disbanded.
DAILY ASSET learnt yesterday that thousands of #EndSARS protesters, who defiled government promise to implement their demands, were halled with stones and sticks in contrast to their aims and objectives.
Report at our disposal showed that hoodlums stormed Lagos Government House, Alausa and attacked #EndSARS protesters, chasing them away from scene of protest.
Armed with clubs and cutlasses, the hoodlums were also reported to have stormed the Berger end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to disrupt the peaceful protests.
Sanwo-Olu Condemns Attack on #EndSARS Protesters
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu strongly condemned the attack on #EndSARS protesters by armed and unscrupulous elements, saying they were trying to cause chaos in the state.
Sanwo-Olu who tweeted yesterday stated that his government “will never tolerate the attack on peaceful protesters and will make sure security agents protect the protesters from miscreants.
“I strongly condemn the attack of peaceful protesters by armed and unscrupulous elements trying to cause chaos in Alausa today.
“My government will never tolerate the attack of protesters. Security agents will immediately protect peaceful protesters from miscreants”, he said.
Ebonyi Govt House Besieged
However, the #EndSARS protests continued in Ebonyi state, with protesters blocking the Old Government House in Abakaliki for several hours.
The Old Government House is located in the heart of the city and is the official residence and office of the state’s deputy governor.
It also houses offices of some top government officials, including the secretary to the state government and many other commissioners.
The protesters had initially gathered in front of the Abakaliki township stadium from where they preceded to the Government House.
They were buoyed by the appearance of popular Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie, at the protest.
This caused serious traffic gridlock on the ever busy Ogoja road.
When they arrived the gate of the Government House, they demanded to see the governor or the deputy governor.
They were, however, told that the governor, David Umahi, was in Abuja while the deputy, Kelechi Igwe, was also out of town.
This angered the protesters who proceeded to block the road for more than two hours.
…Hold Down National Assembly
In Abuja, protesters numbering over one thousand stormed the National Assembly for several hours, calling for the end of Police brutality in the country.
Addressing the crowd, President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, asked those protesting against the actions of SARS to go home and allow the Federal Government to quickly and expeditiously implement the demands.
Lawan said it had “become very imperative for the protesters to put an end to their actions since the federal government has proscribed the dreaded SARS.
“Nigerians have the right to peaceful demonstration when they feel very strongly about issues. They can do so to call the attention of the leaders of this country for the appropriate actions to be taken.
“Government has responded, SARS has been disbanded. All the five demands of the protesters have been accepted. Since such demands have been accepted, then we should expedite action to actualise them.
“I believe that when protesters’ demands are met, their goals should have been achieved.
“Therefore, there’s need for our compatriots to go back home and give government the chance to quickly and expeditiously implement those demands.
Hoodlums Disrupta CNG Peaceful Protest in Kano
In a related development, the Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) peaceful protest on the spate of insecurity in the north, was also attacked and disrupted by hoodlums.
A coalition drawn from the 19 Northern states, yesterday commenced a peaceful protest against the spate of insecurity and level of poverty ravaging the region which they described as ” gradually bleeding to death”.
The youths with different placards and banners, besieged the popular city gate roundabout from 11am singing solidarity songs to draw attention to the plight of the north.
Among their grievances was the worsening state of insecurity in the North and the deplorable federal road network in Niger state and the elliptic power supply currently been experience by customers in the state.
DAILY ASSET correspondent who monitored the protest observed that, plain cloth security operatives provided cover for the protesting youths.
However, when the protesters discovered that they were not attracting the desired attention, they decided to walk the over 1000 metres distance from the city gate to the Nigeria Union of Journalists secretariat by Abdulsalami Abubakar Youth Centre to protest.
Comrade Mohammed Mohammed who is the North Central coordinator of the Coalition, told journalists that the North had been bedevilled by insecurity, banditry, kidnapping and rape, vices he said the federal government was not tackling with the desired seriousness.
“Time has come for the Nigerian state to rise up and do the needful before the country slide into chaos”, he said.
On in the deplorable road network in Niger state, the CNG coordinator pointed out despite having the longest federal road network in the country, there is hardly any road entering or exiting Niger state that is currently passable due to there deplorable condition.
” our people are dying daily yet we have leader that are insensitive to their plights, we have three hydro dams functioning with another on its way, but hardly do any part of Minna enjoy two hours of power supply
” Business that were leaping before now are now dead due lack of power supply yet we pride ourselves as power state, enough is enough “
He vowed that the mother of all protest will be stage on Saturday the 17th of October as what they were doing is simply to sanitize the populace ahead of the mega march planned for this weekend.
Responding, Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Abu Nmodu, who received them on behalf of the council chairman, Comrade Abdul idris, thank them for conducting themselves orderly and peacefully and assured them that the media would always be for the Nigerian masses.
Meanwhile, some allegedly sponsored hoodlums disrupted the
#EndInsecurityNow peaceful protest organized by the CNG in Kano.
Convener of the protest in Kano, Dr Muhammad Bello Nawaila, who spoke with newsmen said 40 of its members sustained injuries from the attack by the hoodlums, who disrupted the protest some 500m from take-off point in Kabuga area of the state.
Nawaila said the protest was expected to kick-start at Kabuga and terminate in Gidan Murtala before the hoodlums disrupted the protest, which was accompanied by four security patrol vehicles.
“We were supposed to have a peaceful protest from Kabuga and terminate in Gidan Murtala. “After about 500 meters, some hoodlums approached us as if they were in support and were trying to give us pure water.
“From nowhere, we saw cutlass and about 40 of our members were injured. They disperse us. They created a chaotic situation.
“What surprised us was that in the movement, we got security backing, two patrol vehicles of the police were at the front and two at the back.
“But in the process of the attack by the hoodlums, we could not find the security operatives. It was after we have been injured that the police resurfaced.
“Recall, before now that our leader, Nastura Ashir Sharif, was abducted for convening a peaceful protest on the same issue sometimes back in Katsina.
“We would continue with the protest until President Muhammadu Buhari listen to our calls. If within three days, the #EndSARS protest can lead to SARs ending, we would continue until President Buhari takes a bold step and keeps Nigeria safe,” Nawaila stated.
The injured victims were said to have been taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
When contacted the spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, did not respond to his calls.
Army Warns Against Anti-democratic Acts
The Nigerian Army has directed all its officers and soldiers, never to be distracted by those it called ‘anti-democratic forces and agents of disunity’.
A statement signed by Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sagir Musa, titled: “Nigerian Army Remains Resolute to the Peace and Stability of the Nation”, reads: “The Nigerian Army (NA) wishes to reassure law-abiding citizens that it is highly committed to the sustenance of peace, security and defence of democracy in Nigeria.
“As a responsible and law-abiding organisation, the Nigerian Army reaffirms its unalloyed loyalty and commitment to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari and the Constitution of the Country.
“The NA hereby warns all subversive elements and trouble makers to desist from such acts as it remains highly committed to defend the country and her democracy at all cost.
“The NA is ready to fully support the civil authority in whatever capacity to maintain law and order and deal with any situation decisively.
“All officers and men are directed never to be distracted by anti-democratic forces and agents of disunity.”
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
As part of efforts to reposition the newspaper for optimum corporate performance, the management of Asset Newspapers Limited, Publishers of DAILY ASSET, has announced the appointment of David Torough as the Editor of the Abuja-based national daily.
A statement by the management said the appointments were part of the company’s new strategy to further penetrate the various states in the country and raise its readership and patronage.
“DAILY ASSET is widely acceptable across the country and to maintain our leadership position, we need to increase management presence, hence the need to create new Bureau offices in some locations outside Abuja and Lagos,” the statement quoted the Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief, Dr Cletus Akwaya to have said.
In a statement yesterday, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the fast-growing daily, Dr. Cletus Akwaya said the appointment was part of the new strategy to properly situate the paper for better productivity.
“DAILY ASSET has a commitment with the Nigerian people. We are determined to weather the storm and give Nigerian readers a Newspaper that satisfies their yearnings and reading pleasure and we can only do that with the right set of professionals,” the statement said.
Akwaya, a former Commissioner of Information from Benue State said the difficult times being faced by Nigerians posed a great challenge to the media as the people deserved credible information with which to make choices.
“We have a bond with the people, to offer credible information at all times in the best tradition of the Nigerian Press and on this scale of objectivity, truth and fairness, we pledge to remain steadfast no matter the challenges,” Akwaya was quoted to have said.
He said the newspaper will maiantin its daily print run and circulation to all states of the federation and urged advertisers to take advantage of the deep penetration of the Daily Asset brand to send their messages.
Torough, the new Editor has had a steady rise in the Newspaper in the last five years.
A graduate of Mass communication of the Benue State University, Makurdi, Torough joined the company in 2022 as Benue State Correspondent. He was spotted for his brilliance and redeployed to Abuja the following year and promoted to Deputy News Editor. He was subswuently named Deputy Editor of the paper, a position he held until the recent appointment.
Torough has attended several journalistic workshops and trainings to properly equip himself for the task ahead.
The statement also said the Management named Eze Okechukwu as Deputy Editor.
Before his elevation as Deputy Editor, Eze has been Deputy Politics Editor and DAILY ASSET Newspaper correspondent covering the Senate, having joined the organization in 2021.
Born on March 10, 1975, Eze holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Eze began his journalism career with Daily Star, Enugu and later worked with Daily Trust Newspaper, Abuja as sports reporter.
Aside from his journalistic excellence, he has a great deal of passion for sports.
From Ngutor Dekera, Kaduna and Aliyu Askira, Kano
Northern governors and traditional rulers yesterday called for the suspension of mining activities across the region for six months, blaming illegal mining for worsening insecurity in many states.The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
The meeting, chaired by the Gombe State Governor and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, had in attendance the 19 northern governors and chairmen of the 19 states’ traditional councils. The Forum expressed concern over the escalating violence in parts of the North, including the killings and abductions recently recorded in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué said, noting that the attacks on schoolchildren and other citizens had become “unacceptable tragedies” that required urgent collective action.It commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions and insurgency threats, especially the rescue of some abducted pupils.The governors also saluted security agencies for their sacrifices on the frontlines.“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the Forum stated.A major highlight of the meeting was the North’s renewed push for the establishment of state police, with governors and traditional rulers insisting that decentralised policing had become inevitable.“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué added, urging federal and state lawmakers from the region to “expedite action for its actualisation.”On illegal mining, the governors said criminal mining networks were fuelling violence and providing resources for armed groups.As a corrective measure, they asked Tinubu to direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to impose a six-month suspension of mining activities in order to allow for a full audit and revalidation of licences.“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria. “We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining,” it said.To strengthen the fight against insecurity, the governors also announced the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund.Under the proposed arrangement, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1bn monthly, to be deducted at source under an agreed framework.They said the fund would help provide sustainable financing for joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions and coordinated security responses across the region.At the end of the meeting, the Forum reaffirmed its commitment to unity and collective responsibility.“Only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us,” it declared.The Forum agreed to reconvene on a date to be announced.Meanwhile, Nigeria’s worsening security crisis took a grim turn on Monday as bandits launched fresh attacks in Kano State, abducting 25 villagers, even as the Federal Government raced to secure the release of more than 300 Catholic school children kidnapped in Niger State.In the early hours of Monday, armed bandits invaded Unguwar Tsamiya—popularly called Dabawa—in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, whisking away nine men and two women after shooting into the air and assaulting residents. The attackers also rustled two cows.A resident lamented the community’s helplessness: “We cannot do otherwise; most of us cannot leave because we have nowhere to go. This is our place, our land and everything is here.”The assault came less than 24 hours after a similar attack on Yan Kamaye in Tsanyawa LGA, a community along the volatile Katsina border.In Niger State, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has assured distraught families of St. Mary’s Co-Education School, Kontagora that the more than 300 students and staff abducted on November 21 will return home “soon.” Ribadu, who led a high-level federal delegation to the school on Monday, said the abductees are safe, though he offered no specifics on their location or the status of rescue operations.According to Daniel Atori, spokesman for the Catholic bishop overseeing the school, the NSA reassured officials: “The children are where they are and will come back safely.”The St. Mary’s attack is part of a worrying resurgence of mass kidnappings reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. Security analysts warn that banditry has evolved into a “structured, profit-seeking industry,” with hundreds of Nigerians abducted in November alone.The Kontagora school abduction occurred the same week 25 girls were kidnapped in Kebbi State—victims who authorities say have since been rescued through “non-kinetic” means. About 50 of the St. Mary’s hostages have also managed to escape.Ribadu’s delegation, which included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing the freedom of all abducted citizens.As communities from Kano to Niger continue to bear the brunt of these violent incursions, the escalating spate of kidnappings underscores the urgent national demand for a more decisive and coordinated security response.
By David Torough, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, will face a team of interrogators at its office daily throughout December.A credible source in the EFCC said on Monday that the daily appearance was part of an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of an alleged 490 million dollars Abacha loot secured through a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT) request.
The source said that Malami, who was summoned for interrogation by the EFCC on Saturday, was barred from leaving Nigeria for the next one month.According to the source, one of the conditions for his release on Saturday was that he should report daily to the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja for further interrogation.The source said Malami would have to appear daily at the anti-graft office due to the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him.”We seized his passport, it is the normal routine during investigation, but he has to report at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja every day for the next month.”He will be reporting for further investigation throughout December.”He will be reporting every day, starting from Dec. 1st to Dec. 31st.He will appear before the team of investigators for the entire month of December.”He will be reporting to EFCC for investigation for the period because of the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him,” the source added.According to the source, a fact sheet on the former minister revealed that Malami had several issues to clarify with the EFCC within the coming weeks.“We have asked him to explain the whereabouts of the $490 million Abacha loot secured through MLAT.“We didn’t say he stole money, but he should account for the loot. This is one of the issues he will clarify to our investigators.”The commission cited the large volume of documents he must review and the need for extensive interviews as reasons for seizing his passport.The source said EFCC would not engage in a war of words but would release its findings after a thorough investigation.Malami, in a statement by his media aide, Mohammed Doka, on Monday in Abuja, however, described the EFCC investigation as a political witch‑hunt.He confirmed he honored an EFCC invitation on Nov. 28, describing the engagement as fruitful and expressing confidence that the probe would vindicate him.Malami described the EFCC’s allegations as baseless, illogical and devoid of substance, insisting they collapse under factual scrutiny.
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