National Breaking News

National Breaking News

Sunday 20th October 2024
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The Lagos State Police Command has released EndSARS protesters who were arrested in the early hours of Sunday, during a commemoration at the Lekki Toll Gate.


This was confirmed by the Command's spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who announced their release via his official X page, stating that Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olanrewaju Ishola, personally oversaw the process.

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Hundeyin wrote: "All protesters in our custody have been released. CP Olanrewaju Ishola was on the ground at the SCID to personally ensure this."

The arrests occurred as protesters gathered to mark the fourth anniversary of the October 20, 2020, Lekki Toll Gate shooting, where soldiers allegedly opened fire on peaceful protesters during the EndSARS demonstrations against police brutality.

However, the reason for their arrest remains unclear, as Hundeyin did not respond to inquiries, and attempts to reach him resulted in 'busy' signals.

In a video viewed by Vanguard, some of the arrested protesters claimed they were beaten by police officers simply for assembling to honour the 2020 victims.

'They beat us'
Hassan Taiwo Soweto, National Spokesman for the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), also confirmed the release.


He noted that the Commissioner of Police visited Panti Police Station to facilitate the protesters' release.

Soweto recounted: "We have just been released after the Commissioner of Police came to Panti police station, pleading hypocritically=104574#?aid=24836


Terrorism


Everywhere in Nigeria
Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Nigeria. Attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect western interests, as well as places visited by tourists. Most attacks are conducted by Boko Haram or Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) and occur in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States in the North East.

Humanitarian staff and assets have been targeted during attacks in the North East, including in garrison towns and on roads. Humanitarian sites have also been targeted. There is a continued threat from extremist groups operating in the region. The al Qaeda-linked terrorist group Jamaat al Ansar al Muslimeen fi Bilad al Sudan, better known as Ansaru, has previously carried out attacks and kidnappings, including that of westerners, across northern Nigeria. The most recent attack was in mid-January 2020 when Ansaru claimed to have killed at least six people, kidnapped dozens, and destroyed several vehicles during an ambush along the Kaduna-Zaira highway in Kaduna State. Details remain unclear.

Most attacks take place in northern and North East Nigeria; there has been an increase in insurgent attacks in Borno State. However, there have been a significant number of attacks elsewhere. Significant attacks have occurred in Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Jos and Bauchi States and in the Federal capital, Abuja. Further attacks are likely. Public places where crowds gather have been targeted, including places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, football viewing centres, displacement camps, transport terminals, government buildings, security and educational institutions (schools, further education colleges and universities are all regular targets), and international organisations. Attacks have taken place around religious and public holidays in public or crowded places, including places of worship as well as during election periods.

You should avoid places where there are political or other large public gatherings. Be vigilant, remain alert and pay attention to your surroundings at all times. You should follow local news reports and be alert to developments particularly around religious and public holidays. A heavy security presence often indicates areas of particularly high risk. You should avoid affected areas in the immediate aftermath of an attack. You should avoid regular patterns of travel or movement, and aim to only travel during daylight hours.