Force
The Ogun State Police Command has warned members of the
National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) over the planned
protest against the increased price of electricity and
petrol.
In a press statement on Saturday, the Police Public Relations
Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed that the protest is billed
for Monday, September 14, 2020.
“The police is in receipt of reliable intelligence that some
students are bent on disturbing the public peace in parts of Ogun
state, starting from Monday 14th September 2020,” he said.
The police authority has however warned those who are being
linked to the planned protest to have a rethink of their plan.
“In the course of identifying the persons involved and warn them
against the planned action, a group of individuals who claim to be
NANS executives South- West Zone D, led by one Kappo Samuel
Olawale, in a letter addressed to the Command, has given the
Federal Government a five- day ultimatum to reverse the recent hike
in fuel prices and electricity tariffs, threatening to unleash
mayhem in Ogun state after the expiration of the ultimatum on
Sunday 13th September 2020.”
According to the command’s spokesperson, the students also plan
to block the Lagos/Ibadan and the Benin/ Ore expressway.
“It is part of their violent plans to block all major highways,
including the Lagos-Ibadan and Lagos-Benin expressway, recruit
miscreants, street urchins, hoodlums, expelled, suspended and
perpetual students over-running their courses at tertiary
institutions in Ogun State and other states from the South-West, to
swell their ranks and ensure their desired objective of spreading
violence in the State beginning from Monday 14th September is
achieved”
He said any form of protest against the hike in prices as
announced by the Federal Government is not welcomed and would be
resisted.
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“The decision by any group of students to embark on protest over
a recent increase in fuel prices and electricity tariffs is
unwarranted and therefore unacceptable to the Ogun State Police
Command.
“No group will be allowed to hold the entire good people of Ogun
state in perpetual fear of violence and harm to their persons and
properties. Olawale and his group are hereby advised in their own
interest to drop their plan to block any highway in the state,
thereby causing confusion, disturbances, and public apprehension.
”
The PRO noted that officers will be on standby to arrest any
individual or group that tries to put fear in the heart of the
residents.
“The law is not on their side on this Officers and men of the
command have consequently be put on red alert in view of this
unwarranted threat. Members of the public are advised to call the
bluff of the group and go about their lawful businesses without
fear of harm or molestation by any person, including Olawale and
his cohorts.
“Motorists and all road users alike have however been reminded
of their rights to freedom of movement and self-defence of their
persons and properties against molestation and violence by any
persons acting under any guise, including miscreants and
hoodlums”.
He further added that the police in conjunction with other
security agencies have resolved, and have the capacity, to deal
with such elements in the most decisive manner just as he
admonished and guardians to call their wards to order.
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/09/13/fuel-hike-police-warn-nans-over-planned-protest-in-ogun/
FG Pledges to Provide Relief Materials to Flood Victims
In Kebbi
Following the devastating flooding that washed off over 450,000
hectares of rice farmlands and other crops in Kebbi State a few
days ago, the Federal Government has promised to mitigate by
ensuring that the farmers get improved seeds to restart
planting as soon as the rains recede.
Speaking during an on- the- spot assessment of the devastation
caused by floods in the State, the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji
Muhammad Sabo Nanono in company of the Executive Governor, Kebbi
State , Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said it was one of the worst
disasters witnessed in recent times and said his visit was to
restore hope and build up confidence for the farmers in the
state.
The Minister who visited the scenes of the floods in Argungu and
also those along the Dukku- Makera Road that were completely washed
off, said, “what I have seen here today is very devastating,
my coming here is at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari who
has sent me to commiserate with the people of Kebbi state over the
flood and to give you hope and assurance that the government is
concerned about your plight and will do something”. He
appealed to the farmers not to despair that the Federal
Government “will address the situation”.
He acknowledged that Kebbi State is one of the major producers
of Rice in the country as well as other crops such as
maize, groundnuts, wheat, sweet potatoes, sorghum and millet,
stating that a loss to Kebbi will affect other states of the
federation.
Nanono said the ministry will immediately set up a special
committee to mitigate the situation and ensure that the dry season
farming will be boosted. He said the ministry will also encourage
the farmers to explore the innovative early harvesting of their
produce as is done with other crops and promised to assist them
with improved seeds.
The State Governor, Senator Abubakar Bagudu lamented the massive
loss to the farmers, explaining that it is not only the rice farms
that are affected but also animal crops and fishing grounds as well
as human lives were affected.He acknowledged the resilience of the
farmers and encouraged them to do more not only to compensate for
lost grounds but also to generate more support.
He said the latest flooding in the state is the worst after the
2012 experience and has affected over 450, 000 hectares of
land stretching over 270km of farmlands. He thanked the Federal
Government for the proactive steps taken to embark on an immediate
assessment visit to the state and promised that the state will
remain focused and consistent with its agricultural programmes.
Hundreds of villages are said to be affected and many homelands
washed away by the floods.
The Minister also visited the Sarki – Kebbi Argungu, Alhaji
Samaila Mohammed Mera and the Emir of Gwandu who is also Chairman,
Kebbi State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ilyasu Bashar . They
both expressed appreciation for the speedy visit of the Federal
Government to commiserate with the state..
The Emir of Gwandu , Alhaji Bashar said, the flooding has
affected many communities who had no option than to relocate. He
said the disaster came just when the people were
recovering from the shock of covid-19 and listed crops lost
to include; Rice, Millet, Sorghum etc.
The traditional ruler also called on the people to be patient
and appealed to the media to assist in sensitizing them on the
government’s efforts.
The Minister visited the Natsimi Gada of Argungu , also affected
by the flood .
Eno Olotu (Mrs)
DD Information
For: Director, Information