Author: Vincent Osuwo

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has criticised and ridiculed social media claims calling on Igbos to leave Lagos and Southwest Nigeria.  Sanwo-Olu made the announcement through his special adviser on media and publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile. According to the statement, “The attention of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has been drawn to a post by LagosPedia, a social media handle on X (formerly Twitter), that calls on the Igbo to vacate Lagos and the Southwest of Nigeria and brace up for a massive hashtag #IgboMustGo protest from 20th to 30th August, 2024. “The Governor of Lagos State and indeed,…

Peter Obi, a former Labour Party presidential candidate, has extended his sympathies to the families of those killed in the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests across the country, while also encouraging the demonstrators to remain peaceful.  In a statement issued late Friday on X, Obi lamented the unfortunate loss of life while underscoring the significance of peaceful protests. Obi stated, “I wish to most sincerely pass my condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests. I deeply mourn these brothers and sisters of ours, who have lost their lives in their struggle for a…

No fewer than 4,000 churches have been closed down over the last month in Rwanda for failing to comply with health and safety regulations, including not being properly soundproofed. It has primarily affected small Pentecostal churches and a few mosques, some of which operate from caves or on riverbanks. “This is not being done to prevent people from praying but to ensure the safety and tranquilly of worshippers,” Minister of Local Government Jean Claude Musabyimana told state media. It is the first serious crackdown since a law was enacted five years ago to limit the expansion of places of worship.…

No fewer than 32 children have died during student protests that engulfed Bangladesh last month, the UN’s children’s agency has said. According to a spokeswoman for UNICEF, the youngest child slain was under the age of five, and the majority of those who perished were spectators. According to BBC Bangla, more than 200 people were killed amid demonstrations against civil service employment quotas. The government has reduced the quota system in response to a Supreme Court order, but students have continued to demonstrate, demanding justice for those who died, were injured, or were incarcerated. While the demonstrations are now smaller…

The police have vowed to investigate the case of Kelechukwu Orji, a 48-year-old British fugitive who fled the UK to Nigeria after being sentenced to 15 years for rape.  ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, said he will keep reporters updated on the situation. Orji was found guilty of two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, one act of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault by a Crown Court in Lewes, East Sussex, England, on November 22, 2023. According to Premium Times, following Orji’s conviction, the trial court ordered a pre-sentence report…

No fewer than 12 arrested “hungry protest” protesters have been released by the police in Lagos State. This was revealed in a statement on Friday by Barr. Inibehe Effiong. According to Effiong, the protesters who were arrested at the popular Lekki Toll Gate and other parts of the state were “grabbed by thugs” and “handed over to the police.” However, he mentioned that a “team of pro bono lawyers under the auspices of Lawyers for Rule of Law and Human Rights” secured their release after complaining about their “arbitrary arrest” to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. “Our team of…

Nigerian singer Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman, popularly called Oxlade, has promised a N500,000 cash gift for the now viral pot-carrying protester at the demonstration in Lagos State. Social media has been awash with pictures of the sorrowful-looking female protester who joined the “hunger protest,” which started on Thursday, August 1, 2024. The now viral picture shows an aged female protester carrying an empty pot, symbolising her inability to buy food. The woman who has attracted public sympathy has attracted the attention of Oxlade, who has promised a financial gift. Oxlade, in a statement on X on Friday, urged Nigerians to help…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has asked Nigerians to remain patient, telling them that President Bola Tinubu understands their fears and anxiety.  Shetima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the 2024 African Caucus Conference, said this in reaction to the nationwide hunger protest. Shettima also said that the president is aware of the oil subsidy cabal’s operations, but he is determined to continue despite the country’s current troubles. At the event themed “Facilitating Intra-African Trade: Catalyst for Sustainable Economic Growth in Africa,” held on Friday in Abuja, Shettima, begged Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu in the wake of the hardship…

The Kaduna Electric Distribution Company has disconnected power supply to the Kaduna State Government House and other state government buildings due to unpaid bills totalling N2.9 billion.  According to a statement issued on Friday by Kaduna Electric’s Head of Corporate Communication, AbdulAzeez Abdullahi, the company attempted to settle the matter several times, including meetings with state officials, before sending the disconnection notice on July 21. According to reports, the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service has sealed the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company over a N600 million tax obligation. Speaking to reporters after the exercise in the early hours of Friday, KADIRS…

Angela Carini, the Italian boxer who abandoned her Olympic fight against Algeria’s Imane Khelif after 46 seconds, says she “wants to apologise” to her opponent for how she handled the aftermath.  Khelif is one of two athletes authorised to compete in women’s boxing in Paris after being disqualified from last year’s Women’s World Championships for failing to meet eligibility requirements. The 25-year-old’s presence in the Games has sparked controversy, prompting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to defend her right to compete. “All this controversy makes me sad,” Carini told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. “I’m sorry for my opponent, too.…