President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration recognised the democratic rights of the Nigerian youth to peaceful protests.
He, however, urged them to beware of anarchists who may hijack their gatherings for selfish motives.
The president stated this when he granted audience to Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare at the State House Abuja Monday.
Two weeks of protest
For close to two weeks now, Nigerian youth have hit the streets demanding an end to police brutality, disbandment of the dreaded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and comprehensive police reforms among others.
The protests have consistently disrupted economic activities in some parts of the country, while also turning tragic in some places with over 10 deaths in related violence.
Although the federal government disbanded SARS and announced Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team in its place, the protesters nonetheless, keep pushing for total reform of the police.
Buhari’s words to the youth
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Minister of Sports Dare quoted the president to have advised the youths to always be on the alert so that miscreants would not take advantage of their genuine intention.
“Firstly, he said, he recognises their democratic rights to protest. Secondly, he made an appeal that this protest wherever held, should be done in a peaceful manner.
“And thirdly, he said the Nigerian youth should be on their guard to make sure that elements that would infiltrate and distract them from the very purpose of their protest should be prevented from doing so.”
The minister, who disclosed that he updated the president on developments concerning #EndSARS demonstrations by youth across the country, said the president assured the youth that their five-point demands would be implemented.
He said plans were on to implement long lasting reforms that would give birth to a new Police Force that the country would be proud of.
He said: “The President assured me that the demands of the protesters are being met in a timely fashion, some have been met already and the process to meet others is on.
“So, he says he has accepted their demands and government is already responding at various levels.
“The president said the youth of this country have spoken, he has heard and he has since gone to work for the youth of our country; not only as a President but as a father.
“Indeed, he said, he is a father to this generation of our youth and his desire is to see that they are well protected, that they live in a country where they enjoy their freedoms and they do not suffer from any form of Police brutality.
“The President promised that he will ensure that the reforms as promised are met and he will make sure that they are long-lasting and that the reforms will deliver for our country a Police Force that we will be proud of.”
The minister said the president acknowledged that Nigerian youth were a great resource to the nation, adding that government heard their cry and government would ensure all their demands were met.
The minister also quoted the president to have said that the youth of the country would be celebrated by government at all levels, “for their vast potentials and skills, since the future of Nigeria lies in their hands.’’
Dare also appealed to the youth to end their protests and give room for government to address their demands.
‘It’s no more peaceful’
Also speaking, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said the federal government had received petitions from various groups dissociating themselves from the #EndSARS protests.
He said the groups noted in the petitions that while the protest was genuine, it had lost its original purpose and intention.
Mohammed said: “We have received petitions from various groups saying that they originally supported the #EndSARS protest because they believed genuinely that they were speaking for all Nigerians.”
“They said in the petitions that, in the last few days, they have also become victims of the protest and they could not go to work and market while many stores have been looted.
“This morning, we also read in the newspapers that one of the conveners of the #EndSARS has resigned on the ground that the protest has been hijacked from them.
“The leader said they are now getting directives and commands from abroad and money is being sent whereas this is not what they stood for.”
The minister appealed to other members of the protesting group not to allow the protest to be hijacked by those with the intent of destabilising the country. The minister also said government had met all demands placed before it by the protesters, while governors had started implementing their requests.
He said Saturday’s attack on Osun state Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the invasion of a Correctional Centre and release of inmates in Benin, Edo state, were clear few examples that the protest had been hijacked.
The minister also listed other cases of attack to include the razing of a police station in Benin city, the attendant looting spree, as well as the attack on the Rapid Response Team in Lagos.
“The protest cannot be said to be peaceful when innocent people are losing their lives and Nigerians are being prevented from going to their places of work where they earn their living.
“Many people from the Lekki axis in Lagos were stranded and the state government said they are losing about N200 million daily.
“It was reported that a pregnant woman lost her life on Friday while people are spending hours daily on the road to get to their destinations.
“With all these ugly developments coupled with the fact that we are just coming out from the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic damage may be too much for the country to handle,” he said.
Mohammed further said: “Government has the responsibility to maintain law and order and ensure that Nigerians live in peace, and go about unhindered to places where they earn their living.
“The government will not watch while the country is being thrown into anarchy.
“While we are bending backward to meet the demands of the protesters, we will also not shirk in our responsibilities to secure the nation.” (NAN)
Hoodlums free inmates
Meanwhile, suspected hoodlums have hijacked the #EndSARS protest in Edo state following the invasion of the Benin Prison along Sapele road in the state capital.
The hoodlums were said to have gained access to the facility Monday after breaking part of the giant prison wall.
Unspecified number of inmates reportedly escaped from the facility during the attack.
The attackers had set up bonfires around the area around 7am and waited to gather numerical strength before launching an attack at about 10 am.
The hoodlums also reportedly vandalised a nearby High Court.
Some persons reportedly sustained injuries as armed squad of prison officials engaged the attackers in gunfire.
Spokesman of the state police command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, could not be reached for comment at the time of this report.
Bullion van attacked
In a related development, some suspected #EndSARS protesters Monday attacked bullion van in Osogbo, Osun state.
The bullion van was coming from Fagbewesa Street, shortly after the protesters barricaded Olaiya junction.
While the bullion van went straight to Ogo-Oluwa area, the two vehicles conveying policemen turned back, with one returning to Fagbewesa, while the other escaped through MDS area.
The angry mob threw pebbles at the bullion van.
EFCC admits website’s attack
Also, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has admitted its website came under attempted cyber-attack over the weekend.
The Anonymous, a group of foreign activists’ renown for hacking repressive government’s website, had claimed responsibility for attacking the EFCC website in support of the nationwide #EndSARS protest in Nigeria.
The group, in several tweets, prided itself as having brought the anti-graft agency’s site as well as those of other agencies.
Admitting the attempted infiltration of its website, the EFCC in a statement posted on its Twitter handle Monday said the commission experienced a compromise of its website, which was later repelled.
“Though there were attempts, over the weekend, to compromise the website by some cyber criminals, the attacks were successfully repelled. The EFCC website is up and running.
“The EFCC, therefore, urges members of the public to disregard the report, in addition to the one which also claims that the commission’s website had been hacked,” the statement said.
Govs promise to address demands
Giving further assurance Monday, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) said it would address the protesters’ demands.
In a statement by the NGF Chairman and Ekiti state Governor Kayode Fayemi, the governors said “governors have endorsed the demands by demonstrators for improved governance”.
While stating that they had also agreed to setting up Judicial Panel of Enquiry to receive and probe all cases of police brutality, he said “each State is also expected to kick-start a compensation mechanism for all victims.”
He also said: “Governors thereafter resolved to: condemn the attack on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun state by armed persons while he was addressing anti-police brutality protesters in the state capital Osogbo; protesters are encouraged to engage with the government appropriately at both the national institute level to ensure that the protests are not taken over by hoodlums who are instigating a breakdown in law and order in many parts of the country.
“Activate a Judicial Panel of Enquiry to receive all cases of police brutality by officers of the disbanded SARS Unit. Each State is also expected to kickstart a compensation mechanism for all victims.
“Endorse the call by demonstrators for improved governance predicated on an enforcement regime that takes into cognizance the fundamental human rights and liberties of all citizens in the country;
“Act on all the Demands made by the #EndSARS protesters raising some concerns with the shifting nature of the demands which creates uncertainty on the exact expectations and ultimate goal;
“Finally, appeal for the call off of protests as a continuation grossly exposes the fragile economic fundamentals of the country; particularly as criminal elements and hoodlums have hijacked the protests by maiming innocent citizens, looting and destroying properties.”
