WORLD NEWS ALERT

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has condemned its branding as a militia group by the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Umar Muri, describing the action as mischievous. Muri had on Thursday while parading criminals before journalists at the police headquarters in Kaduna described IMN as a criminal group. "I am delighted to inform you that the command in the last few weeks, in its numerous tasks of securing lives and property of law abiding citizens of Kaduna State has succeeded in arresting one hundred and fifty-seven suspects for various crimes which include armed banditry, armed robbery, kidnapping, cattle rustling, culpable homicide, rape, shop breaking, looting of government private warehouses, theft, Shi'ite (IMN) militias to mention but a few,” the police boss said. Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Ibrahim Musa, Secretary of the Academic Forum of the IMN, said none of the group's member was paraded to justify the commissioner’s claim. The statement rea...

The #EndSARS protests that hit the streets of Nigeria have jotted the ruling class into reality. The protests, propelled by young Nigerians, will forever be ingrained in the minds of everyone. Before the protests hit the streets, the cyberspace provided the only channel through which young people can ventilate their frustration and anger against the system. The young people that propelled the protests have been maligned and called all sorts of names. They have been labelled as a lame duck when it comes to the issue of nation-building and changing government policy. They have been called the 'phone pressing generation' interested only in voting massively during reality TV shows but fail to take a step further and vote during general elections in the country.   A leader once called them ‘lazy’. Yet, another lawmaker called them a ‘drug-ridden generation’. It was therefore a shock to the old generation to see these set of young people pouring to the streets and sustai...

Liberia has launched a new national carrier to begin flight operations. The West African nation has named the airline, Lone Star Air, 30 years after the former national carrier became defunct. George Weah, Liberia’s President, while inaugurating the national carrier on Friday, said, “It would connect our country to our region and to the world. “It is my dream, my hope and my ambition that we will very soon see Lone Star Air, the wings of Liberia, flying our flag in international skies, shining so brightly.” It is unclear when the new airline will begin operation and neither Weah’s office nor the Ministry of Transport was immediately available for comment, AFP reports. The airline initially plans to operate flights between Monrovia and regional hubs such as Abidjan in Ivory Coast or Lagos in Nigeria. Travel News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :  from All Content https://ift.tt/2HL68f8

Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has asked those in possession of unauthorised arms and ammunition to surrender them. There had been shootings in various parts of the state capital, Akure, in the past few days with miscreants roaming the streets with dangerous weapons mostly at the night.  Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu The situation has further led to increase in armed robbery and sent panic across the city. In a statement on Friday by the state's Commissioner for Information, Mr.m Donald Ojogo, the governor said he would give an ultimatum of seven days to those bearing such arms to turn them in before a clampdown by security agencies.  He said such items should be returned to the Commandant of Amotekun Corps in Akure.  The statement reads, "All those in the category of the illegal arms and ammunition bearers are to take advantage of this window of grace to turn in these deadly weapons as security agencies shall take nec...

Tope Akinyode Human rights lawyer, Tope Akinyode, has commenced defence proceedings at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a lawsuit instituted by a former presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba, seeking an order of court to ban the use of Twitter in Nigeria. Announcing the development on Twitter, Akinyode said, “Having been consulted by friends and colleagues, I've filed court processes to challenge @adamugarba's lawsuit against @jack and @Twitter. Jack's support for Nigeria's cause is commendable. We'll protect our freedom of expression and resist the move to ban Twitter in Nigeria.” Tope Akinyode SaharaReporters Media The tweet was retweeted by about 12,000 Twitter users and has over 15,000 likes. Reply & quote this tweet with #TwitterLawSuit Let's make #TwitterLawSuit trend tonight so Adamu Garba & his associates know we serious. — Tope Akinyode (@TopeAkinyode) October 28, 2020 In the notice of joinder filed in the case, Adamu Garba v. Th...

President of the Confederation of African Football, Ahmad Ahmad, has tested positive for Coronavirus and has begun self-isolating at a hotel in Cairo, Egypt. This was contained in a statement on the website of the continental football governing body on Friday. According to the statement, Ahmad, who is also a FIFA Vice President, had been in Morocco for the Confederation Cup club final on Sunday and started showing mild flu symptoms after returning to Egypt on Wednesday. “The President after his arrival to Cairo on October 28 presented mild flu symptoms and submitted to the COVID-19 protocol. ”Today, the test results are positive and the President immediately self-isolate for at least the next 14 days at his hotel. “All those who have come into contact with Ahmad over the past seven days, especially during his trip to Morocco for the Confederation Cup, have been informed and requested to take the necessary measures.” PUBLIC HEALTH Sports News AddThis :  Original Au...

The Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday remanded seven men at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre for allegedly gang-raping a minor. The men, who allegedly gang-raped an 11-year-old girl to death are Ajom Tabi, 37; Omobolanle Olowookere, 41; Aliu Bilyamin, 24; Emmanuel Okon, 24; Bolarinwa Olamilekan, 24; Badmus Abdulateef, 20; Azeez Quadri, 22; and Sunday Odunayo, 22. The police preferred a three-count charge of rape, murder and defilement against the suspects. Chief Magistrate O.G. Oghre did not take the plea of the suspects pending legal advice. She ordered the police to return the case file to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions. The magistrate, however, admitted Olowookere (the second suspect) to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties each in like sum after her counsel, Spurgeon Ataene, told the court of her non- involvement in the case. The magistrate adjourned the case until November 18 pending legal advice. News AddThis :  Ori...

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu The Lagos State Government has again reviewed the restriction of movement in the state. A 24-hour curfew declared on October 20 was eased on Sunday with movement allowed from 6:00am to 8:00pm. Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu However, the hours have been reviewed and movement is now allowed from 6:00am to 10:00pm. Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, in a statement on Friday urged Lagosians to go about their businesses in peace. The statement reads, “The Lagos State Government has announced a further relaxation of the curfew imposed after the breakdown of law and order, following the hijack of the peaceful ‪#EndSARS‬ protests.The curfew will now be from 10pm till 6am.  “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu praises Lagosians for observing the curfew, which is expected to restore normalcy in our communities. He urges all Lagosians to go about their businesses in peace, even as they shun ‘actions that can threaten our unity’...

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has told officers to protect themselves against attacks. Adamu, who spoke when he visited the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Abuja, said officers must protect themselves because they are humans and also have rights. Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu. The police boss, who also condemned the #ENDSARS protest, said the demonstration was an attack targeted at the police to demoralise officers, PUNCH reports. Adamu said, “The unity of this country lies in the support that is given to police officers because if you are demoralised, the tendency is for criminals to take over the public space and the country is relying on us to make sure that the public space is not taken over by the criminals. So no amount of provocation, no amount of insult would make us shy away from our responsibilities. “Inasmuch as we are aware that the government is behind us; so, we ...

Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola. The Osun #ENDSARS protesters have accused the state government of influencing and manipulating members of the judicial panel of enquiry to listen to cases of extrajudicial activities of security personnel in the state. The protesters also accused the government of sponsoring an unknown body to impersonate the protesters and pledge allegiance to the state government. Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola. The protesters in a statement released by its spokeperson, Olawale Bakare (Mandate); Mobilisation Secretary, Olushayo Ogunleye; and Chairperson, Finance/Welfare Committee, Queen Fisayo; said it received with huge shock the announcement of the suspension of the protest. Describing the judicial panel as “unpopular and controversial egression”, the youth said the panel is vested to defend the government's interest against the people. The #ENDSARS protesters therefore demanded that the membership of the panel be reviewed. They said, “We...

Joe Biden, Presidential candidate of the Democrats, and his wife, Jill, have voted early in the United States elections. So far, more than 75 million voters have cast their ballots early. The former US Vice President voted at the Carvel State Office Building in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, after delivering remarks about protecting the Affordable Care Act. He said, “I do have a proposal that relates to how we can improve the Affordable Care Act beyond what it was before, which Barack (Obama) and I wanted to do at the time to add a public option, allowing people to keep their private insurance, if that's what they want to do, making it more affordable to get a better plan.” US President and Biden's opponent in the election, Donald Trump, had cast his ballot also early on Saturday at a library in Florida's Palm Beach County. United States of America News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :  from All Con...

The Conference of Civil Society of Nigeria has warned against any attempt to sweep the Lekki killings under the carpet in the interest of justice. The group warned that any party indicted must be made to face sanctions and the wrath of the law.  Chairperson of the group, Adams Otakwu, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing journalists on the development. Otakwu appealed for calm pending the outcome of judicial panels of inquiry. He said, "We call for calmness, peace, restraint and a halt to blame trading while we await this report.  "We reassure the world that we (of the civil society) shall not rest on our oars once the report is out. Any parties indicted must be made to face sanctions and the wrath of the law.  "Any military or security personnel indicted of misconduct, must be appropriately and decisively dealt with. Any governmental or non-governmental organization found to have doctored facts and inflamed tempers, must be blacklisted as ...

Germany has announced that it will enter a second national lockdown in November as COVID-19 cases in the country surge. Chancellor, Angela Merkel, said schools and shops will stay open and called for a "major national effort" to fight Coronavirus. Social contacts will be limited to two households, bars, catering and leisure facilities will shut, the BBC reports. European counterpart, France, has also announced that it will be entering a second national lockdown starting on Friday. As part of the new restrictions, French President m, Emmanuel Macron, said people will only be allowed to leave home for essential work or medical reasons. Non-essential businesses such as bars and restaurants will close while a ban has also been announced on travelling between regions. The move comes as Coronavirus cases rise globally, causing nations to go back into lockdown to curb the spread of the disease.  Already Ireland and Sweden have gone back to national lockdown while Lond...

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala The United States of America has opposed the candidacy of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala-Iweala as head of the World Trade Organisation, instead backing South Korea's Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee, for the position of Director-General. The so-called troika of ambassadors heading the World Trade Organisation's three main branches determined after four months of consultations with member states that Okonjo-Iweala was the most likely to obtain the consensus needed to take the top job, WTO spokesperson, Keith Rockwell, told journalists. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala The initial pool of eight candidates for the WTO's top post had been whittled down to just two over two previous rounds of consultations with only Okonjo-Iweala and Myung-hee left in the race, AFP reports. On Wednesday, America said it was opposed to her taking the helm, casting doubt on whether she can obtain the necessary full backing from member states. Rockwell said that 27 delegates had taken the flo...

The Media Rights Agenda and the International Press Centre have accused the National Broadcasting Commission of turning itself into a 'kangaroo court' by fining broadcast stations at will. MRA and IPC said this in reaction to the fine recently imposed on three stations – Channels Television, Africa Independent Television and ARISE Television. They were fined N3m each as penalty for their alleged use of unsubstantiated footages from social media in their coverage of the #ENDSARS protests and gave them three weeks from the date of receipt of the letter to pay the amount to avoid further sanctions. The organisations threatened legal actions if the NBC refused to reverse the sanction. In a joint statement issued in Lagos, the two organisations accused the NBC of turning itself into a “kangaroo court” and called on it to immediately reverse its decision sanctioning the three stations in order to save itself the embarrassment that both the commission and country would suf...

Residents of Jalingo, Taraba State, have discovered and looted a COVID-19 palliatives warehouse in the state. This follows a similar trend of discovery and looting in some states across the country. The looting of COVID-19 warehouse started from Lagos and has extended to states like Oyo, Osun, Plateau, Edo and Kwara. It was gathered that the residents overpowered security operatives, who watched helplessly as the people made away with different food items. The looting, which started in the evening, continued till 9pm as more people came for their share of the hoarded palliatives. In videos of the looting obtained by SaharaReporters, residents could be seen driving tricycles and cars as well as pushing carts into the warehouse for easy carriage of the food items. Taraba palliative day pic.twitter.com/16d7G4jezn — I B R A H E E M (@IbnbkrIbraheem) October 24, 2020 Another warehouse stacked with covid palliative discovered in Taraba.. ThankGod say this one no pass me ...

#EndSARS Protesters In Germany #EndSARS Protesters In Germany Nigeria was rocked by two weeks of protests. Guterres said gunmen that opened fire on peaceful protesters Tuesday evening in Lagos caused “multiple deaths” and many injuries. Protestors raise their fists during a protest action against police brutality in Nigeria, as they kneel in New Cavendish Street in central London on October 24, 2020. Guterres said gunmen that opened fire on peaceful protesters Tuesday evening in Lagos caused “multiple deaths” and many injuries Protestors shout slogans as they raise their fists during a protest action against police brutality in Nigeria, in New Cavendish Street in central London on October 24, 2020. Despite the crackdown on #ENDSARS protesters in states across Nigeria, citizens outside the country have continued with the agitations. Nigerians trooped out in Gottingen, Germany, and London, United Kingdom, calling for an end to police brutality in Nigeria. Guterres said ...

Alpha Conde Incumbent Alpha Conde has won Guinea’s disputed presidential election with 59.5 per cent of the vote to secure a controversial third term. According to Aljazeera, the announcement on Saturday came after days of deadly violence in the wake of the October 18 vote.  Alpha Conde Frederick Florin/AFP via Getty Images The opposition says 27 people have been killed, while officials have put the death toll at about 10. The victory, which requires confirmation by the Constitutional Court, gives a third term in office to the 82-year-old after a bitterly fought election in which the opposition said he had no right to participate. Conde says a constitutional referendum in March reset his two-term limit, but opponents say he is breaking the law by holding on to power. Results were announced in batches in recent days and already showed Conde with an unassailable lead, sparking street protests in opposition strongholds. Opposition candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo, Conde’s ...

Another Kannywood star, Zahradeen Sani, has called on Northerners to attack rights activist and co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, Aisha Yesufu. The actor also labelled Nigerians demanding an end to police brutality and reform of the law enforcement agency as infidels. Since the start of #EndSARS protest, Kannywood stars have been taking to social media to discredit the movement, calling those, who joined the agitation as bad Muslims that must be dealt with. Sani, an ardent supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, in a video shared on social media accused the protesters of planning to disrupt the country. He also said they were using the #ENDSARS protest to promote terrorism in the Northern part of the country, adding that they “must be attacked wherever they are found”. In the video that has gone viral on social media, Sani repeatedly cursed Yesufu and accused her of being an agent of Christians and against the teachings of Islam. He called Yesufu an “agen...