Metro

‘Expect more protests, I am not afraid of Tinubu’, Nigerian activist blows hot after airport arrest

Published

2 months ago

September 16, 2024

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, Omoyele Sowore, has vowed that despite his arrest by operatives of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) on arrival from the United States at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos on Sunday, the President Bola Tinubu-led government should expect more protests.

Sowore, the convener of #RevolutionNow, who was reportedly arrested and detained on Sunday morning at the airport by the NIS which also seized his passport and other travelling documents, said he was not afraid of Tinubu and would go ahead with planned protests.

Sowore, who is also a journalist and publisher of online news platform, Sahara Reporters, had on Sunday announced his arrest on X.com.

“I had just arrived in Nigeria from the USA at MMIA in Lagos; upon reaching Nigerian Immigration, my passport was seized, and they told me they had orders to detain me.

“This is not unexpected because I have always known that it is part of the broader clampdown by the fascist @officialAbat regime on dissent and their fear of the upcoming #FearlessINOctober revolt.”

Though he was later released after undergoing interrogation, Sowore was still upbeat about going ahead with planned protests against the government as he is not afraid of President Tinubu.

Sowore who later appeared in an interview programme on a popular TV station on Sunday night by, insisted that a planned “FearlessInOctober” protest scheduled to commence on October 1, will still go on as well as other such demonstrations.

He said the protest was part of a series of protests organised by Nigerians against what he called the oppressive government of Tinubu.

“We started on August 1, which was part of the ‘End Bad Governance’ protest. It was supposed to be a continuation,” he said.

“There were 15 demands that the government did not even attend to. Instead of that, the Federal Government arrested and detained a lot of people. They tied them with bogus offences, very outrageous offences of treason – for carrying placards.

“So, this is going to be a continuation of that.

“Everybody is aware, the government is aware of this. Everybody is looking forward to it because it’s a matter of right that Nigerians have to not allow this government to obliterate them with hunger, starvation, and incompetence

“It is treason to arrest, detain, and forcibly charge citizens with crimes that the government committed. And it’s not the first time I was accused of treason. In fact, I heard about the offence of treason in 1992 at the University of Lagos when we went and did Babangida Must Go.

“And the police arrested us at Western Avenue Police Station, asked us to start writing statements under duress, and said that we wanted to overthrow the government. That was the period that Olusegun Mayegun was President of NANS.

“I was charged with treason in 2019 by Buhari, so I’m not new to these bogus offences of treason. But that is not our focus. Our focus is that we have a country to liberate and a people to save. So whatever offences are thrown our way, we should not be discouraged.

“It’s up to the people to determine what constitutes the offence of treason. And I must say to you also that in 1994, Tinubu was accused of treason. If you remember when he was accused of bombing the Ejigbo depot by Abacha. So that was why he left Nigeria on exile. But in our case, we are not going to go on exile simply because the government is afraid of our package,” Sowore added.

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Metro

Zambian govt successfully repatriates trafficked toddler from Mozambique

Published

9 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Zambian government has announced the successful repatriation of a one-year-eight-month-old child who was trafficked to Mozambique.

Making the announcement at a media briefing held at the Ministry’s head office in Lusaka on Friday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Angela Kawandami, expressed relief and joy at the child’s return, following the abduction from Lundazi District in October 2023.

Kawandami revealed that the case was reported to Lundazi Police Station on October 28, 2023, and following intense investigation, the child was trailed to a house in a care facility in Tete, Mozambique, before being repatriated.

Kawandami emphasized government’s commitment to protecting children’s rights, citing the Children’s Code Act of 2022 and the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2008 as essential tools in combating child trafficking.

“These laws mandate the state and relevant actors to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of children, especially those at risk of trafficking,” she said.

She further highlighted the role of Zambia’s National Referral Mechanism in ensuring a coordinated, multi-sectoral response to trafficking cases.

“Through effective collaboration between the Ministries of Community Development and Social Services, Home Affairs and Internal Security, the Zambia Police Service’s Anti-Human Trafficking Department, and Interpol, the child was returned safely after a year of continuous efforts,” she narrated.

She urged the public to remain vigilance and report suspected trafficking cases, noting the increasing threat of human trafficking.

Also speaking at the press briefing, the Director for Anti-Human Trafficking in the Ministry of Home Affairs Boris Mulengu, praised the strong cooperation between Zambia and Mozambique, stressing the importance of intergovernmental collaboration in combating trafficking.

Meanwhile, the child’s mother expressed heartfelt gratitude for her child’s safe return, acknowledging the emotional toll the abduction had caused.

She thanked the government and all involved agencies for their unwavering dedication to reuniting her with her child.

Metro

Finland-based Nigerians in panic as authorities search for Simon Ekpa’s sponsors

Published

13 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Some Nigerians based in Finland have been thrown into panic mode following the arrest and detention of the self-styled Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRIGE), Simon Ekpa, who was arrested on Thursday by Finnish authorities on terror-related charges.

Ekpa was arrested alongside four other individuals by Finnish authorities on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and financing terrorism.

The dissident had made himself infamous by using the social media to promote violent activities in southeastern Nigeria, including attacks and murder of civilians and security personnel.

According to some Nigerians in European country, following the arrest of the separatist leader and the four individuals suspected to be sponsors of his group known as IPOB-AutoPilots, the police have begun a manhunt for other sponsors, thus creating panic in the Nigerian community and those who may have had dealings with the agitator.

Several sources who spoke to journalists, said Nigerians in the European country are afraid of commenting on the arrest of Ekpa over fear of being attacked.

A Nigerian community leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said that the Igbo community in the was gravely affected by the violent acts of the secessionist group.

“Everyone is afraid to speak about Ekpa’s arrest. The key people in Finland and the Igbo community at large are not ready to lend their voices either,” he said.

He added that some persons were being accused of reporting Ekpa to the police and were being threatened.

“A particular person they accused now, they’re after him. This happened before he (Ekpa) was even remanded; what will happen when they imprison him? Everyone is afraid. These people are very deadly.”

Another Nigerian who spoke acknowledged that there was serious tension among Nigerians in the country.

“People don’t want to speak about Ekpa for fear of being hunted by his followers. We believe that they will hunt whoever comes out to talk about their leader. But the Finnish Government is trying to get rid of the situation.”