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Osinbajo Orders Overhaul of Police Anti-robbery Squad, SARS

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Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has d­irected Inspector General of Police ­(IGP) Ibrahim Idris to immediately overhau­l the management and activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The security outfit has been widely accused of highhandedness and extra-judicial killings.

It was the subject of #EndSARS, an intense online campaign that called for its dissolution and morphed into street protests in different parts of the country. There were also counter demonstrations.

The acting president’s action came a week after he sacked the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS) for an unauthorised deployment of masked personnel to the National Assembly complex.

President Muhammadu Buhari is in London on vacation.

Osinbajo, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, yesterday, asked the IGP to ensure any unit that would emerge from the process, would be intelligence­-driven and restricted to the prevention­ and detection of armed robbery and kidn­apping as well as apprehension of offenders linked to stated offences, and nothing­ more.

The acting president directed the police boss to ensure that all operatives in ­the emerging unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to international human rights law and constitutionally­ guaranteed rights of suspects.

The operatives would also bear proper identification whenever they are on duty.

Osinbajo further directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a panel to investigate the alle­ged unlawful activities of the squad.

This would give members of the public­ the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to getting redress, he said.

The development, meanwhile, has continued to generate reactions from members of the public.

“Thank you Prof. This is a very big relief for Nigerians,” tweeted Onyia Chinyere.

“In jubilation and celebration of #EndSARS triumph.

It’s celebration of liberty. More to come! Nigeria shall rise again!” said Rossonero Oladapo Olawole.

But Jèfé Juān Jọsé had a warning: “Dear Kings and Queens, as you all celebrate Osinbajo’s ‘SARS overhaul’ directive, bear in mind that SARS will, out of anger, in the coming days, rain terror on innocent youths before the overhaul is effected.

I pray for your safety and do be careful as you go out.”

Convener of the #EndSARS initiative, Segun Awosanya, in a chat with The Guardian, yesterday, said: “We know the commander’s intent.

We know what led to the pronouncement but we don’t want it to just be a political pronouncement.

We need to monitor it and ensure it does what we, the people, have demanded.

“The experience and feedback from people must not be that of pain and anguish ever again,” he said, urging government to rein in the police so “they won’t be tempted to abuse the citizenry anymore.”

Also, in a statement yesterday, the Nigeria Police Force announced that Inspector General Ibrahim Idris has ordered all formations to comply with Osinbajo’s directive.

A special squad has been charged with monitoring observance and apprehending erring officers.

Among other reviews, personnel of the reformed squad would abolish stop and search duties except in response to distress calls, robberies or kidnappings.

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has d­irected Inspector General of Police ­(IGP) Ibrahim Idris to immediately overhau­l the management and activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The security outfit has been widely accused of highhandedness and extra-judicial killings.

It was the subject of #EndSARS, an intense online campaign that called for its dissolution and morphed into street protests in different parts of the country. There were also counter demonstrations.

The acting president’s action came a week after he sacked the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS) for an unauthorised deployment of masked personnel to the National Assembly complex.

President Muhammadu Buhari is in London on vacation.

Osinbajo, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, yesterday, asked the IGP to ensure any unit that would emerge from the process, would be intelligence­-driven and restricted to the prevention­ and detection of armed robbery and kidn­apping as well as apprehension of offenders linked to stated offences, and nothing­ more.

The acting president directed the police boss to ensure that all operatives in ­the emerging unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to international human rights law and constitutionally­ guaranteed rights of suspects.

The operatives would also bear proper identification whenever they are on duty.

Osinbajo further directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a panel to investigate the alle­ged unlawful activities of the squad.

This would give members of the public­ the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to getting redress, he said.

The development, meanwhile, has continued to generate reactions from members of the public.

“Thank you Prof. This is a very big relief for Nigerians,” tweeted Onyia Chinyere.

“In jubilation and celebration of #EndSARS triumph.

It’s celebration of liberty. More to come! Nigeria shall rise again!” said Rossonero Oladapo Olawole.

But Jèfé Juān Jọsé had a warning: “Dear Kings and Queens, as you all celebrate Osinbajo’s ‘SARS overhaul’ directive, bear in mind that SARS will, out of anger, in the coming days, rain terror on innocent youths before the overhaul is effected.

I pray for your safety and do be careful as you go out.”

Convener of the #EndSARS initiative, Segun Awosanya, in a chat with The Guardian, yesterday, said: “We know the commander’s intent.

We know what led to the pronouncement but we don’t want it to just be a political pronouncement.

We need to monitor it and ensure it does what we, the people, have demanded.

“The experience and feedback from people must not be that of pain and anguish ever again,” he said, urging government to rein in the police so “they won’t be tempted to abuse the citizenry anymore.”

Also, in a statement yesterday, the Nigeria Police Force announced that Inspector General Ibrahim Idris has ordered all formations to comply with Osinbajo’s directive.

A special squad has been charged with monitoring observance and apprehending erring officers.

Among other reviews, personnel of the reformed squad would abolish stop and search duties except in response to distress calls, robberies or kidnappings.

The Guardian

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Army Buries 17 Personnel Killed in Okuama Community

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The 17 military personnel killed in Okuama community in Delta on March 14 have been laid to rest.

The corpses of the soldiers, which arrived at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja at about 2:26 pm on Wednesday, were committed to mother death after burial rites were observed.

President Bola Tinubu, Service Chiefs and other dignitaries were in attendance at the burial ceremony.

DAILY POST recalls that the troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuoma Community were ambushed and killed by some irate youths.

The incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call following a communal crisis between Okuoma and Okoloba communities in Delta State.

The personnel comprised one Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, one Captain and 13 soldiers.

The officers are Commanding Officer 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt. Col. A.H Ali; Maj S.D Shafa (N/13976); Maj D.E Obi (N/14395) and Capt U Zakari (N/16348).

The soldiers are SSgt Yahaya Saidu (#3NA/36/2974); Cpl Yahaya Danbaba (1ONA/65/7274); Cpl Kabiru Bashir (11NA/66/9853); LCpl Bulus Haruna (16NA/TS/5844); LCpl Sola Opeyemi (17NA/760719); and LCpl Bello Anas (17NA/76/290).

They also include LCpl Hamman Peter (NA/T82653); LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi (18NA/77/1191); Pte Alhaji Isah (17NA/76/6079); Pte Clement Francis (19NA/78/0911); Pte Abubakar Ali (19NA/78/2162); Pte Ibrahim Adamu (19NA/78/6079) and Pte Adamu Ibrahim (21NA/80/4795).

DailyPost

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Thomas Yormah Emerges As New WAEC Chairman

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By Eric Elezuo

The West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) has a new Chairman, he is Prof. Thomas Brima Rick Yormah, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Fourah Bay College and former Pro ViceChancellor, University of Sierra Leone as the 21st Chairman of Council.

According to a statement signed by Demianus G. Ojijeogu, the Head, Public Affairs, WAEC Headquarters, Accra, Ghana, Yormah was elected during the just concluded 72nd Annual Council Meeting of the body, held in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He succeeds Prof. Ato Essuman from the Republic of Ghana.

The highpoint of the week-long Council meeting was the recognition and honoring of three Ghanaian candidates with the WAEC International Excellence Award for their outstanding performance in the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2023. They were Master Amo-Kodieh Leonard Kofi, (1st Prize), Master Dzandu Selorm, (2nd Prize), and Master Asenso-Gyambibi Daniel (3rd Prize). The three candidates were selected from 2,327,342 who sat the examination in The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

In the same vein, the Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for the Best Candidate in West Africa, 2023 also went to Master Amo-Kodieh Leonard Kofi. In addition, two candidates from the Republic of Sierra Leone were honoured with the National Distinction, while one candidate received the National Merit Award. They were Miss. Mammah E. A. Raymonda, (1st Prize), Master Bangura Joshua, (2nd Prize), and Master Fillie Sahr Edward (Merit Award).

While the 71st edition of the Council meeting was hosted by Gambia, the next edition, which will be the 73rd in the series, will be hosted by Liberia.

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Kidnapped Edo PDP Chairman Regains Freedom

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The kidnapped chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, has been released.

Dr. Aziegbemi, who was set free by his abductors in the early hours of Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Report has it that he got to his Benin City residence at about 3am to the waiting arms of family and close friends.

“I am back home with my family. I am fine. I am just trying to rest and will talk to you later,” he was quoted as saying.

Dr. Aziegbemi, a former member of the House of Representatives, who represented Esan North-East/Esan South-East federal constituency of Edo State, was kidnapped on Friday, March 15, 2024 when his abductors who rode in two Toyota Corolla cars, trailed him after he left a meeting.

The gunmen overtook Aziegbemi’s sports utility vehicle (SUV) at a speed break as it slowed down along Osaro Street, off Country Home Road, close to his house at about 11pm on Friday night before seizing him.

It is not clear yet if a ransom was paid for his release as the abductors had reportedly demanded a sum of N50 million before setting him free.

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