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Rivers Security Chiefs Inspect Facilities Vandalised By Hoodlums
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, has led commanders of the sister security agencies in the state to Oyigbo Local Government Area where four police stations were burnt down in the wake of the mindless attack of October 21, 2020 by hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
It would be recalled that on October 21, 2020, at about 2130hrs, hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) under the guise of #EndSARS protests, invaded Oyigbo Area Command, Oyigbo; Afam and Umuebulu police stations, where they attacked the policemen on duty and burnt down the four police formations.
In the course of the attacks, over 50 vehicles were burnt, including one Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), killing two policemen who were hacked to death and set ablaze.
Addressing journalists at the Oyigbo Police Station, Mukan condemned, in the strongest terms, the senseless attack on public and private property, and noted that, “it was not only ill-conceived, but most unfortunate and an ill wind that blows no one any good”.
He said: “We have gone round and we assured the people that their security is guaranteed.”
He confirmed the killing of the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) Area Command by the hoodlums.
He said the DCO’s corpse was burnt during the attack.
“The DCO fell victim of the crossfire between the criminals and the police,” he said.
But he denied that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area, Suleiman Abdullahi, was killed in the attack.
He said Abdullahi was alive and going about his official duties.
The CP, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, condoled with the families of the officers who lost their lives in the attack, and pledged that the command would stop at nothing until the perpetrators of the dastardly acts were arrested and brought to justice.
He reassured the good people of the state that there was no cause for alarm, maintaining that “massive deployments have been made by the command, with complementary deployments by sister security agencies to guard against further breach of the peace and restore public confidence, with a renewed sense of security.”
The police commissioner used the medium to appeal to all aggrieved persons, groups, or ethnic nationalities in the state, to shun violence and embrace a more civilized means of ventilating their grievances, rather than being confrontational to the extent of destroying lives and property.
He enjoined residents of the state to remain calm and go about their lawful activities, and asked those in whose areas curfew is imposed to religiously obey same, as violators risk arrest and prosecution.
The places visited that were affected by the cross fire include, Sangana Street, Mile One Police Division, Onne Police Division, Afam Police Division, and Oyigbo Area Police Command.
It would be recalled that, last Tuesday, over 50 IPOB members allegedly stormed two police stations in the area, killing security men and set their bodies on fire.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.