FocalPoint Reports

 Ijaw Group To Storm Delta Government House With Anger Protest.   A politica pressure group who styled themselves as Members of the Delta Ijaw Youth Movement has expressed displeasure over what they described as Used and dumped after working to secure victory for Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa during the 2019 governorship Election that enthroned him for second term. The Spokesman of the Delta Ijaw Youth Movement, Comr. Paul E. Ebikedoumene disclosed this in a letter to the Governor on Friday, a copy of which was sent to FocalPoint Reports in Warri. The letter reads in Part "We write you this letter with pain in our hearts that you have exhausted our patients and we are left with no option than to come and die at the front of Government House, Asaba". "You have succeeded in using us, now you want to  dump us and we are not going to accept that, you know the sacrifice we did to ensure there was peace in your second term election, but you choose to treat us as insignificant ...

NUJ Flays Lackadaisical Attitude of Delta Government To Flood Victims  The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ughelli Correspondents Chapel, has frowned at the lackadaisical attitude of the Delta State Government towards the plight of flood victims across the state.  The union stated that the ravaging flood has affected many local government areas in the state which include Ughelli South, Ughelli North, Udu, Burutu, Warri North, Warri South West, Bomadi, Patani, Warri South, Isoko South, Isoko North, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Ukwuani, Oshimili South, Oshimili North and some others The union, in a communique issued at the end of it's monthly meeting, said millions of residents of flood ravaged communities in the aforementioned local government areas have been displaced from their homes and facing untold hardship without any form of intervention from the state government. The communique signed by the chapel Chairman, Comrade Sunday Apah and Secretary, Comrade Matthia...

CHRPC Pays Solidarity Visit to NUJ, Seeks Protection, Welfare for  Journalists in Delta The Center for Human Rights and Public Complaints, CHRPC on Friday, paid a solidarity visit to the Warri correspondent Chapel of Nigerian Union of journalists, NUJ in Delta state. The group was led by the State secretary, Comrade Lucky Emebejere who appeal to the Governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to prioritize Journalist Welfare, security, safe and friendly working environment in the state. The group sympathised with the Warri NUJ over the brutality meted on Akpokona Omafuaire, a reporter with Vanguard Newspaper and  called on the Delta State commissioner of police, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa to transfer the Owvian Aladja DPO for gross incompetence. The state acting Public Relation Officer, PRO of the group, Comrade Benjamin Ajemrona urge the commissioner of police to collaborate with Journalist for effective policing of the State. The group also called for the transfer ...

Good News: MTN Nigeria Recruiting  to fill management positions, Others  MTN Nigeria – The leader in telecommunications in Nigeria, and a part of a diverse community in Africa and the Middle East, our brand is instantly recognisable. It is through our compelling brand that we are able to attract the right talents who we carefully nurture by continuously improving our employment offerings even beyond reward and recognition. We are recruiting to fill the positions below:   Job Title:  Assistant Company Secretary (Manager) Location:  Lagos Job Description Provide governance advisory, secretarial ,statutory and administrative support to the MTN Board and Management, MTN Nigeria subsidiaries and related companies Support the Stakeholder return strategy by developing and implementing processes that are aligned to achieving all elements on the business scorecard. (i.e. Hearts and Minds / stakeholder engagement) Render satisfactory services and minimize material complai...

President Buhari Should Implement the EndSARS Demand For  a  Better Nigeria  ------Chief Awala By Wilson Macaulay  The President of Nigeria Welders and Fitters Union NIWELFU  Comrade Chief Joseph Awala Inone has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the five point demand of the the famous endSARS protesting Nigeria  youths across the globe  whom he described as the children of Mr President.  Comrade Chief Joseph Awala lnone who broke his silent to speak for the first time since the commencement of the  protest asserted in his speech  that, the  children have made their points very clear and President Buhari has equality admitted that the demands are germane and worthwhile , all hands need to be on deck now to ensure that the implementation of their request does not nose dive or run into  the twist and turns of the usual tangles which truncate government laudable ideas  vision. Chief Awala the NIWELF...

Extreme Poverty, Hunger in Delta: Act now CHRPC Tells Okowa A human right activist with the Center for Human rights and Public complain, CHRPC, Comrade Lucky Emubejere has called on the Governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to save Delta State from economic death. In a statement released to newsmen in Warri on Sunday, the activist lamented and said that; "majority of youths in Delta State are tricycle (Keke) riders and Okada riders and they survive on Balance-and-Take. The majority of in the women in most communities resorts to carrying concrete from one building site to another just to warn a living." "Only about 1/10 of the population of Delta State is living above the poverty line, If you count all the Keke and bikes in Delta State, they are more than private vehicles; a sign that there's extreme poverty in Delta State". "Our young ones are embracing Rituals and Yahoo-Yahoo while most of the young Ladies are embracing mil...

Delta: Gbagi sympathises with Ughelli-South flood victims, seeks government intervention for those displaced Former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi has sympathised with flood victims displaced from their homes in several communities of Ughelli-South Local Government Area in Delta State.  Gbagi in a statement issued to the media on Saturday, described as “devastating” and “tragic”, the recent flooding of communities which rendered many homeless.  While seeking the intervention of the Delta State Government in addressing the problems caused by flooding in the area, the former Minister also urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to provide relief materials to all those affected.  “I wish to sympathize with the victims of recent flooding in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.  “While it is indeed tragic and devastating that residents of several communities within t...

CHRPC Condemn maltreatment of  Medical Doctor by Soldiers, calls for disciplinary action The Center for Human Rights and Public Complain, CHRPC has   Codenamed in strong term the assault on a medical doctor, Dr. Raphael Onyemekehia, by military personnel enforcing the 48-hour curfew imposed by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on Saturday. In a statement signed by the acting publicity secretary, Comr. Ebipade Fedeke said that, the attention of CHRPC has been drawn to what it described as dehumanizing assault on a medical doctor who was forced forced to swim inside a pool of dirty water along the Effurun-Warri Road at Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state. It was however reported that the doctor who is  consultant physician, was alleged to have identified himself to the soldiers with his identity card before he was ordered to enter the gutter and swim for allegedly violating the curfew. CHRPC maintained that those on essential duties must...

#ENDSARS: NBA condemns killing of protesters, vows to sue Nigerian Military By Ikechukwu Nnochiri – Abuja The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on Wednesday, condemned the killing of peaceful #ENDSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza in Lagos by unidentified men of the Nigerian Military. The legal body, in a statement that was signed by its President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, said reports available to it indicated that the Lekki shootings were “a carefully calculated and premeditated attack”. It vowed to commence legal proceedings, both locally and internationally, against the Nigerian Military and other relevant authorities, on behalf of the families of the victims, “for abuse of power, disregard of rules of engagement and the infringement of the fundamental rights (including the right to life) of the affected citizens”. NBA maintained that breach of the curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government was not a misdemeanor that could warrant the use of live ammunition to confront the pro...

#EndSARS protest: Despite video evidence, Sanwo-Olu says ‘no fatalities’ in Lekki shooting. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu No fatalities were recorded but at least 25 people were wounded in a shooting on protesters who defied a curfew in Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said Wednesday. “We are comforted that we have not recorded any fatality, as against the widespread circulation on social media,” the governor said, adding that he had ordered an investigation into “the rules of engagement employed by the men of the Nigerian army that were deployed to Lekki tollgate (the epicentre of the demonstration) last night”. Amnesty International had earlier said that “several” demonstrators were killed in the shooting, while there has been no independent confirmation of the death toll. “Several people were killed by security forces. We are working on verifying how many,” Amnesty spokesman Isa Sanusi said, after armed men fired on a ...

Mr Jollof breaks down in tears as he steps down from Delta state Judicial Panel of Enquiry Nigerian social media activist Mr Jollof, has announced on social media that he is no longer on the Delta state Judicial Panel of Enquiry. Read more on Legit.ng

#EndSARS: Deploy soldiers to fight Boko Haram, not protesters, Osun civil societies tell Buhari Nigerian soldiers By Shina Abubakar Coalition for Civil Societies in Osun State has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address the rising unemployment in the country to avert imminent national outburst. It also called on the Federal Government to deploy military to areas witnessing insurgency attacks rather than deploying them to quell peaceful #ENDSARD protesters across the country. Addressing newsmen, yesterday, in Osogbo, one of the conveners, Olawole Oladapo said if the president failed to deal with rising hunger, poverty, dilapidated infrastructure and other social issues sincerely, it could trigger revolution in the country. The group, said that the inability of government at various levels to meet daily yearnings of Nigerians led to the present mass anger, but called on youths across the country to seize the protests back from anarchists and hoodlums. “We call on President Buhari...

#ENDSARS: Edo youths protest despite 24-hour curfew Some youths in Edo State continued with their EndSars protest on Tuesday despite the 24-hour curfew announced by the state government. The protesters converged at Ugbowo Main gate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) junction, Ugbowo road, on Tuesday. Youths came out, as usual, to mount roadblocks in solidarity with the EndSARS protesters requesting a change in governance in the country. They said their movement is about restructuring the country. Etisosa Idahosa, a protester, said that Nigerian youths want their voices heard in matters of change and restructuring. “We want good jobs. I graduated with first-class from UNIBEN ten years ago. I don’t have a job. I run home lessons for children. I want a change. I want a job,” he said. Gladness Eloghosa said that Nigeria has good resources that have been badly managed. “Let’s join hands to build our count...

Lekki Massacre: Call For Buhari’s Resignation Begins As Nigerians Tag United Nations The ongoing protest has taken a new turn, following the  massacre  of #EndSARS protesters who remained at the Lekki Toll gate, as protesters are now calling for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari. Although the Lagos state government had earlier in the day, announced that there would be a 24 hour curfew in the state, it was initially scheduled to begin by 4pm, 20th October, 2020. However, through its Twitter page, the government rescinded the decision, announcing that the time for the curfew had been adjusted to 9pm, to allow people stuck in the traffic to get home on time. However, it was learnt that the officials of the Nigerian Army were dispersed to the Lekki Toll gate around 7pm, and they allegedly started to shoot at the unarmed #EndSARS protesters, killing at least nine of them. Reacting, Nigerians who have blamed the Buhari-led government, have taken to twitter to call for hi...

#EndSARS: Obaseki holds security meeting, warns against curfew violence Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State By Ozioruva Aliu – Benin City Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State on Tuesday night, held a security meeting to assess the violent trend the EndSARS protest has assumed in the state where he warned that violators of the currently imposed curfew would be penalised. At the meeting which held in the government house behind closed doors were his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, Secretary to State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq, a newly deployed Deputy Inspector General of Police, Celestine Okoye, Commissioner of Police Babatunde Johnson Kokumo, state commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the State Director of the Department of State Services among others. Speaking shortly after the meeting, Obaseki said the meeting became necessary to analyse and access the security development in the state. He said “We deliberated extensively on the security issues, f...

We Are Tracking 1,993 Inmates Who Escaped In Edo – FG A photo combination of scenes from the jailbreak in Edo State on October 19, 2020.   At least 1,993 inmates are at large following the attack on two Nigerian Correctional Service ( NCoS ) Custodial Centres in Edo State, the Federal Government has said. Mr Mohammed Manga, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Interior, gave the figure in a statement on Tuesday. He explained that at the last count, 1,993 inmates escaped from the correctional facilities in Benin City and Oko. According to the government official, the attackers freed the inmates who are in legal custody and looted the centres, including the weapons in their armoury. “They came in large number, bearing dangerous weapons and attacked the officers on guard duty. They were unmistakable on their mission, which was to force the cells open, free the inmates and carry out other nefarious activities,” he said in the s...

#EndSARS: What thugs have ‘achieved’ so far As the country heats up, with thugs attacking the #EndSARS peaceful protesters, tragedies have marred the youths’ struggle, leading to a 24-hour curfew in some states of the federation. Below are some itemised “achievements” of apparently sponsored thugs. *In Benin City, Edo State, thugs launched an audacious attack on a prison, with several inmates running for freedom. However, a doctor and a security expert have said such security breach cannot be carried out by the unarmed peaceful protesters and that a prison break cannot effected without insider collaboration. *In Abuja the hoodlums attacked peaceful protesters, killed some and set a car mart ablaze. *In Abuja, suit and tie-wearing SUV-driving men were seen on videos directing the thugs who were on rampage. *Some of the thugs rode in the SUV with the suit and tie men. *In Lagos, they set fire to police stations and looted secretariats *Army uniform-...

EndSARS protest: N’Delta militants back protesters, threaten to resume hostilities By Emma Amaize – Warri A coalition of nine renegade militant groups in the Niger-Delta region has declared support for the raging EndSARS protests across the country, saying they were ready to resume hostilities, attack oil and gas facilities if Federal Government did not meet the demands of protesting Nigerian youths. The militant groups under the aegis of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA, which held an emergency meeting in Delta state, also announced their preparedness to disavow the ceasefire accord with the Federal Government and engage military forces. They said in a communique by RNDA leader, self-styled “Major -General” Johnmark Ezonebi, aka Obama: “We will engage the troops attached to the proposed Operation Crocodile Smile and resume attacks on some identified oil facilities in the region if issues of poor welfare, armed oppressio...

#EndSARS Protest: Take responsibility and step down, Fani-Kayode hits Buhari Fani- Kayode and Muhammadu Buhari By Idowu Bankole A former Aviation Minister and foremost Chieftain of the main opposition party in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has on Tuesday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to humbly take responsibility for the ongoing protest and honourable step-down as President of the federal republic. Fani-Kayode noted that as credible, laudable, vital, noble, necessary and important as the #EndPoliceBrutality and #EndSARS protests and initiatives are to every right-thinking, reasonable and rational person they are nothing but a mild irritation and meaningless slogans to the President. In a statement released on his Facebook page, the former Aviation minister lamented that tyrant leaders, whether democratically-elected or not, have little respect for the will of the people and do not bow to reason. According to him, “they see these pro...

#ENDSARS Protests: Address the Nation now — Senate to Buhari Calls on Protesters to leave the Streets By Henry Umoru – Abuja The Senate, on Tuesday, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately  address the nation on the current nationwide protests by youths against the  notorious  Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and bad governance. According to the Senate, addressing the nation would douse  the tension the seemingly unending protests are  causing in the country. The Senate has also directed the police to offer protection to the #EndSARS protesters to prevent hoodlums from hijacking their genuine action, just as it urged the Federal Government to faithfully and comprehensively implement all the five demands of the #EndSARS movement and protesters. The Upper Chamber has also called on the police and other securities agencies to operate strictly in accordance with the rules of engagement appropriate to a democratic environment that...

#EndSARS Protests: Speak up now, Nigeria on a time bomb, NUJ tells Buhari By Omeiza Ajayi, Abuja The Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ has expressed concerns at the continued indifference of President Muhammadu Buhari in the wake of sustained protests against police brutality across the country, noting that the country is currently sitting on a time bomb. The union in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Shuaibu Usman Leman, Walin Shadalafiya, also asked the Inspector General of Police IGP, Mohammed Adamu to immediately end all acts of impunity against Nigerian journalists. The statement reads; “The Nigeria Union of Journalists is alarmed by the continued silence of President Muhammadu Buhari over the #EndSARS protests that have engulfed the country. “Nigerians, mainly the youth are protesting against Police brutality that had characterised the operations of the dreaded Special Anti-Rubbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police. The disbanded SARS was legendary in...

How FG can stop #EndSARS protests – Capt Umar ..Say APC may pay a huge price in 2023 if…   By Dirisu Yakubu, Abuja Retired military officer, Capt. Aliyu Umar Babangida has warned the federal government to resist the temptation of deploying soldiers to quell ongoing nationwide protests against operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, saying the boomerang effect will be difficult to manage. Rather, the protesters should be engaged in genuine negotiations that will convince them of the seriousness on the part of the government to address the issues, he said. Capt. Umar gave the advice in an exclusive chat with Vanguard on Tuesday, saying the originators of the protests are young enlightened minds that will stand their ground if government chooses to unleash military might against them. While noting that dialogue will bring about peace between the protesters and government, Umar called for the use of some influencers who understand the peculiarities of th...

#EndSARS: Our voices are heard, time to dialogue with govt – Amb Nihi tells Nigerian youths …Commends the doggedness of protesters over police brutality Arogbonlo Israel The Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Political Participation, Pan-African Youth Union, Ambassador Oladele Nihi has commended Nigerian Youths particularly those who have been on the streets protesting against the activities of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit created by the Nigerian Police Force to deal with robbery. In a statement, signed on Tuesday, the youth leader appreciated the protesters for coming out to stand against police brutality in the country. “I want to sincerely appreciate and commend Nigerian Youths both those on the streets protesting and the online supporters of the ongoing protest against police brutality and call for a total reform of the Nigerian Police Force. For sustaining the protest this far, we have demonstrated that Nigerian Youths are not lazy an...

Breaking: Nigerian files $1bn suit against Twitter, over alleged #ENDSARS Protest sponsorship A businessman, Mr Adamu Garba, on Tuesday, instituted a 1 billion dollars suit against the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of Twitter International Company, Jack Dorsey, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged sponsorship of the ongoing #EndSARS Protest across the country. Garba, in a suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1391/2020 filed by his Lawyer, Abbas Ajiya, urged the court to direct Mr Dorsey to stop the operation of Twitter International Company in any part of Nigeria. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the case is yet to be assigned to a judge. Also joined as respondents are Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police, Director General of Department of State Service, the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps; Nigeria Communication Commission, Jack Dorsey, Twitter International Company and t...

China’s loans to African countries have no political strings— Chu Maoming President Muhammadu Buhari (3rd right front row); President Xi Jinping of China(4th left) and other African leaders at a meeting. By Chioma Gabriel China’s Consul-General in Lagos, Chu Maoming, has dismissed fears that China’s loans to African countries have political undertones or are meant to enslave Africa. Speaking on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Maoming said that in the years since its establishment, FOCAC has travelled an extraordinary journey. Maoming maintained that China attaches great importance to debt suspension and alleviation in Africa and is committed to fully implementing the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI). He also dismissed what he calls false accusations made by some countries and media against China. According to him, “At the Extraordinary China-Africa Summi...