₦airaland Forum

Yoruba Union Backs UK Party Leader, Kemi Badenoch, Condemns Nigerian Police Misconduct Under IGP Egbetokun

https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_1300x650/public/2024-12/1215202475211_img_6412.jpeg
December 16, 2024
NEWS

The Yoruba Union, known as Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorúbá, has thrown its support behind Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the United Kingdom Conservative Party, following her recent comments about the Nigerian Police.

The Union commended Badenoch for shedding light on what it described as systemic misconduct by the police force.

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorúbá highlighted such abuses involving the Nigerian Police, including the reported abduction of Yoruba activists Dele Farotimi and Olamide Thomas, a nurse, who were allegedly transported from Lagos to Abuja under the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi.

The Union accused Egbetokun, whose tenure is over, of exploiting his position to harass and intimidate Yoruba citizens while neglecting critical security issues.

“Under his leadership, kidnappings and killings have escalated across the South-West, leaving Yoruba communities vulnerable and fearful,” the group said.

They further condemned the Inspector General's alleged silence and inaction on widespread criminal activities in the region, described his tenure as a period of systemic abuse and impunity.

This was contained in a statement released on Monday by the General Secretary, Olugbenga Olotu, who said: "The Yoruba are known as Omoluabi, but a few corrupt individuals are trying to tarnish the heritage and legacy that our forefathers laid down.

"We, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorúbá, will not sit idly by and allow some people, who always use the left hand to point to their father's house, to destroy what our ancestors have built. As Kemi Badenoch rightly said, she is Yoruba before anything else, and that shows the true spirit of an Omoluabi in her.

"We recall how Vice President Kashim Shettima, during his tenure as Governor of Borno State, rehabilitated Boko Haram terrorists and reintegrated them into society. A man who negotiated with terrorists dares to criticize our daughter for speaking out against the ills of Nigerian society."

"If anyone needs to change their name, it is definitely Shettima who should renounce his citizenship and return to Niger Republic," said Olotu.

Olotu added, "People like Shettima should be ashamed of themselves. What he needs to understand is that Yorubas are not cowards, and no amount of money can buy their conscience. They are well-trained, educated, and exposed. They travel across the globe and contribute positively to their societies.

"Yoruba children are not raised to become terrorists. They are raised to be educated, respectful, and courageous—not cowards.
"Shettima, a shameless man, remained silent when the Nigerian Police maltreated minors arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests. These poor minors were malnourished, yet he never spoke about the disgrace the Nigerian Police brought to the country with the way they handled those minors.

"Was Shettima blind when the Nigerian Police killed innocent people during the #EndBadGovernance protests? Or is he unaware of how trigger-happy policemen killed students in Ilorin? Why is he coming after Kemi Badenoch now?"

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorúbá warned the Vice President to stop harassing their daughter and urged him to focus on his Almajiri people, who are being used by terrorists he allegedly rehabilitates to launch attacks in his region.

According to the group, the Nigerian Police have become tools in the hands of politicians, subjecting themselves to public ridicule. Instead of upholding the law, they are the same organization violating it and using their offices to frustrate innocent Nigerians.

The union further stressed that Kayode Egbetokun has turned state police spokespersons into attack dogs, defending indefensible actions.
Referring to Kemi Badenoch's remarks about the Nigerian Police stealing her brother’s shoes and wristwatch, they said, "It is a shame to the Nigerian Police."

"We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Abiodun Olumide Thomas. The lady has not committed any offence. Why did Kayode Egbetokun send his officers to abduct her from Lagos to Abuja? This act further confirms what Kemi Badenoch said about the Nigerian Police.

"We want all Yorubas worldwide to take note and have it on record that people like Kayode Egbetokun and Muyiwa Adejobi are misusing their positions as Nigeria Police officers to oppress Yoruba people in the country. They abducted Dele Farotimi, and now Abiodun Olumide Thomas. This will be a lasting record for their children and grandchildren to know how their fathers abused their positions of power against humanity.

"Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorúbá will not stand by idly. We will petition embassies worldwide to deny visas to those involved in abducting our people, including their children.

Olotu also stated that the Union would write to the United Nations to report how Egbetokun and his associates are abusing their offices to torment the Yoruba people.

"We condemn Egbetokun's abuse of power and disregard for human rights. We strongly demand the immediate and unconditional release of both Dele Farotimi and Abiodun Olumide Thomas," he added.

[color=orange]SaharaReporters[/color]

The Union commended Badenoch for shedding light on what it described as systemic misconduct by the police force.

Interesting times.

But why will they criticise and blame Shetima and the IGP without saying anything about their principal, Tinubu?

A very wise move for now.

Inspector-General Egbetokun Bans Nigerian Police From Arbitrary Arrests, Detention Of Youths, Collection, Checking Of Phones

https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_1300x650/public/2024-12/IMG_9190.jpeg
December 17, 2024
News

Inspector-General Egbetokun Bans Nigerian Police From Arbitrary Arrests, Detention Of Youths, Collection, Checking Of Phones

The Nigerian Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an immediate halt to unnecessary arrests and detention of youths across the country.

The IGP, who is currently under fire over incessant arbitrary arrests, detentions and human rights violations, also directed that all arbitrary collection and checking of phones be stopped immediately.

The police authorities warned that henceforth any police personnel caught indulging in the prohibited acts would be punished including the Commissioner of Police of the command and their supervisors.

The warning is contained in a police wireless message dated December 13, 2024 and addressed to all the State Commands which was obtained by PidomNigeria.

In the letter signed by the Department of Operations for the Force Headquarters, the police hierarchy stated that such impunity and unlawful attitudes are portraying the Nigeria Police Force in bad light.

According to the message, all these infractions culminated to the #EndSARS protest which led to the destruction of properties and killing in the past.

The message with DTO: 111996/ and Ref: CB:0900/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.TIO/157 was titled: Order and directives: Arbitrary Arrest and Detention.

It partly read: "Arbitrary Arrest X Detention X NIGPOL DCPS ABUJA DIRECTS X HENCEFORTH X THERE SHOULD BE NO UNNECESSARY ARREST AND DETENTION OF YOUTHS X COLLECTING OF PHONES X CHECKING OF PHONES X AT CHECKING POINTS X THESE SHOULD STOP X THIS ATTITUDE IS Portraying THE Nigeria POLICE FORCE IN BAD IMAGE X ALL THESE CULMINATED TO END-SARS PROTEST X DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTIES X KILLING IN THE PAST X NIGPOL DOPS DIRECTS YOU DESIST FROM SUCH UNLAWFUL ACTS X ANYONE CAUGHT WILL BE DISCIPLINE ALONG WITH COMMANDS COMPOLS/SUPERVISORS AS INGENPOL WILL DEPLOY MONITORING UNITS FOR Enforcement OF THIS DIRECTIVES X TREAT AS VERY IMPORTANT."

SaharaReporters recently reported that human rights activist and convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, warned that the Inspector-General of Police was illegally occupying the seat of IGP and that his mission was to destroy the Nigerian police.

Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), said Egbetokun had deliberately been engaging in egregious violations of human rights since he was appointed and his tenure illegally extended by President Bola Tinubu.

The former presidential candidate, in a post on his social media handle, had said that the IGP must be stopped before he completely destroyed the Nigerian police.

Sowore wrote, “This illegal IG of @PoliceNG, Kayode Egbetokun, has engaged in egregious violations of human rights since @officialABAT appointed him and illegally extended his tenure.

“He was the person who ordered the murders of #EndBadGovernance protesters, he orchestrated the prosecution of minors for treason, he has assisted powerful elites in arresting and jailing their critics, including @delefarotimi whom he abducted from Lagos to Ekiti on behalf of Chief Afe Babalola, SAN.

“Speed Darlington, a musician is languishing in detention because he had a beef with @burnaboy, @IjeleSpeaks2 has spent months in prison now because IGP Egbetokun connived with Evang.

“Chukwuebuka Obi to silence him, and now this lady, Olamide, had to be flown to Abuja because she made Facebook posts about the IGP and @Princemoye1, who's had personal issues with her in Ogun State.

“IGP Kayode Egbetokun will destroy the Nigeria Police if we don’t act now.”

SaharaReporters also reported that the Nigeria Police Force on Saturday transferred female activist Abiodun Olamide Thomas, who was "abducted" from her home in Lagos State by lawless police personnel to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja.

A human rights advocacy organisation, the Take-It-Back Movement (TIB), which made this known in a post on its social media handle said that Thomas was transported by illegally constituted Nigeria Police Force Courier Service to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport en-route Abuja.

The organisation had said that the activist was moved to Abuja to face an illegal trial “sponsored by President Bola Tinubu through FPRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi and the IGP.”

[color=orange]SaharaReporters[/color]

The police authorities warned that henceforth any police personnel caught indulging in the prohibited acts would be punished including the Commissioner of Police of the command and their supervisors.

OLAADEGBU:
The police authorities warned that henceforth any police personnel caught indulging in the prohibited acts would be punished including the Commissioner of Police of the command and their supervisors.

And you believe this?

Bring British Policemen Along On Next Visit To Nigeria – MURIC Advises UK Party Leader, Kemi Badenoch

https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_1300x650/public/2024-12/1215202475211_img_6412.jpeg
December 18, 2024
NEWS

The Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof Ishaq Akintola, has called on the Nigerian police to stage a 24-hour work boycott in response to recent comments made by Kemi Badenoch, a Nigeria-born British Conservative Party leader.

Akintola’s remarks followed Badenoch’s disclosure that operatives of the Nigerian police had stolen her brother's shoes, leading her to criticise the entire force and, by extension, Nigeria.

In a statement released on Wednesday and obtained by SaharaReporters, Akintola expressed his discontent and disclosed that Badenoch’s comments insulted the nation’s law enforcement and tarnished Nigeria's image.

“Kemi Badenoch should consider bringing British police officers with her on her next visit to Nigeria,” Akintola said, adding that a symbolic police boycott would send a strong message.

The statement read, "We would like to ask this woman if she could bring British police with her whenever she decides to come to Nigeria since she has no faith in our police force. At the same time, we would like to ask the Nigeria Police to withdraw their services for 24 hours only the day Kemi Badenoch enters Nigeria in order to teach her a lesson. At least that will enable her to know what it looks like to have no police in town.

"Kemi Badenoch has been myopic and parochial in her assessment of our policemen in particular and the country in general. How can she judge thousands of policemen by the behaviour of only one of them? It is sheer stereotyping.

"Unfortunately for her, she has failed to see beyond her nose as the Nigerian policemen are known to have performed heroic deeds while her own British police are known to have soiled their reputation with shocking criminal behaviour."

"MURIC as a group had a unique opportunity to experience the gallantry, efficiency and professionalism of the Nigerian Police when the luxurious bus conveying one of our members was attacked near Abuja on the night of 18th December, 2016. The driver was shot and killed for refusing to stop and the occupants fled into the bush.

"It was only the telephone number of our member that we sent to the police and she was traced and rescued in the bush with other passengers within one hour."

MURIC said, "We urge the Nigeria Police to forge forward. They should not be deterred by negative comments of Kemi Badenoch and her minions, her bootlickers and court jesters. They are mere distractions. In spite of the existence of a few bad eggs in the force, Nigerian policemen have every reason to raise their heads high. Which sector of the Nigerian society is full of saints only? Who will cast the first stone (John 8:7)?

"To Kemi Badenoch we have this to say, 'It is clear you do not need the services of 'thieves' as you called our police force. But is it possible for you to bring your British Policemen with you whenever you contemplate coming to Nigeria? Anyway, the Tories are wise politicians and they know when to tender apologies even if you do not,'" Akintola added.

[color=orange]SaharaReporters[/color]

Akintola’s remarks followed Badenoch’s disclosure that operatives of the Nigerian police had stolen her brother's shoes, leading her to criticise the entire force and, by extension, Nigeria.

Keir Starmer EXPOSED By Kemi Badenoch | PMQs


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xxtmdkptZI?si=nhtpyFZBQhamgQdz

Kemi Badenoch Was Right: Nigerian Police Stole My Phone In 2019, By Elias Ozikpu

https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_1300x650/public/2024-12/IMG_9153.jpeg
December 18, 2024
Elias Ozikpu
OPINION

As for the Nigerian police, it has to be completely revamped, and then its officers retrained all over again, with heavy consequences in the event that ethical codes are violated.

British politician Kemi Badenoch recently became a subject of fierce attacks by officials of the Nigerian government for continuing her criticism of Nigeria’s crumbled and utterly corrupt system.

Part of what riled officials of the Nigerian government was her disclosure during her interview with The Free Press, when the Conservative Party leader said, ‘Nigeria is a very poor country’ where people do all sorts to survive. Kemi was right and wrong at the same time, depending on your perspective on this matter. Personally, my understanding is that Nigeria isn’t necessarily a poor country as she put it, but the pervasive poverty in the country is man-made—created and entrenched by political officeholders who have done nothing but privatise public wealth since independence in 1960. So, contrary to Kemi’s submission, Nigeria is a wealthy country, but that wealth appears to be the ‘birthright’ of the political class alone! Except you are a politician, you will never enjoy Nigeria’s immense wealth, nor will you enjoy the benefits of being a Nigerian citizen, if any exist. Even your fundamental human rights, which are inherent, are taken from you if you are not amongst the political class in Nigeria.

The second remark that irked Nigerian officials was her submission that the Nigerian police once stole her brother’s wristwatch and shoes. It is not clear why this should get officials worked up, especially with daily reports of the infamous activities of some officers of our police force. Whilst I know absolutely nothing about the theft of the shoes and wristwatch belonging to Kemi’s brother, I can tell authoritatively that I have been a victim of the robbery of officers of the Nigerian Police. During the #RevolutionNow protest in Lagos, which took place on August 5, 2019, I was arbitrarily arrested, and my phone, an HTC Desire 10 Pro, was snatched from me by a police officer. The press captured him holding the phone whilst dragging me to get locked up in a waiting Black Maria. All the police officers present at the scene saw him snatch the phone, but none of them asked him to return it. Whilst I was being prepared for detention, the police did not record the phone as part of my belongings despite my insistence that they do so.

Lawyer and human rights activist Inibehe Effiong took up the case at the time and petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, asking him to investigate the robbery of his officers and ensured my phone was recovered and returned to me. When we were invited in respect of the petition, the police told us that it was impossible for them to identify the officer who snatched my phone. They asked me to go and find out from the journalists who captured the officer holding the phone he had forcefully taken from me. That was how that case ended. They didn’t know their own officer, but they expected journalists to. Incredible!

So, it is a curious thing to me that government officials should be infuriated because someone talked about the notorious activities of officers of the Nigeria Police. The truth will always remain what it is; it never changes nor dies. Nigeria will never get better with its officials deliberately working to conceal a stinking decay already known throughout the world, nor will the country get better by expecting impoverished citizens to do false PR in the face of the economic oppression they have been subjected to for approximately 70 years as an independent nation. Nigeria will only get better if political officeholders respect citizens and ensure that the nation’s wealth is justly and equally distributed in a way that puts a permanent end to the monopolisation of public wealth by political officeholders.

As for the Nigerian police, it has to be completely revamped, and then its officers retrained all over again, with heavy consequences in the event that ethical codes are violated. This will avoid incidents such as the ones that led to the eruption of the #EndSARS protests in 2020. If Nigerian officials expect positive remarks about the system they preside over, these steps must be taken, along with the equal distribution of public wealth. Until then, international embarrassments about the true Nigerian situation will not cease. Of course, through their trigger-happy uniformed men and women, Nigerian officials are adept at silencing those within for criticising the chaotic system they have vehemently refused to fix. But what will they do to the Kemis who do so from several miles away? What will they do to the likes of David Cameron, who famously said, Nigeria is ‘fantastically corrupt’? In the end, it becomes clear that fixing the country is the only solution, not intimidating, arresting, and detaining critics and unarmed protesters and slamming them with laughable charges of treason.

Nigeria’s political officeholders must do what is right, or they will spend their tenure defending the indefensible, thereby making themselves a laughing stock locally and internationally. You cannot impose respect; you must earn it.

Elias Ozikpu is a novelist, dramatist, and journalist.

[color=orange]SaharaReporters[/color]

Part of what riled officials of the Nigerian government was her disclosure during her interview with The Free Press, when the Conservative Party leader said, ‘Nigeria is a very poor country’ where people do all sorts to survive. Kemi was right and wrong at the same time, depending on your perspective on this matter.

Kemi Badenoch: My Take
Dr. Charles Apoki
1 day ago


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjzOH3UV4vw?si=X7Jp6Bj-sTR2ga-e

OLAADEGBU:
Keir Starmer EXPOSED By Kemi Badenoch | PMQs


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xxtmdkptZI?si=nhtpyFZBQhamgQdz

Love her or hate her, she is a genius

Why Are Nigerians Calling Kemi Badenoch Uncle Tom?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRdP9zk2a18?si=_iomSDJSfArS53oE

UK Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch Demands National Inquiry Into 'Rape Gangs,' Cites Thousands Of British Girls Abused By Muslim Men, ‘Official Collusion’

F
January 5, 2025
NEWS

Nigerian-born Kemi Badenoch, leader of the British opposition Conservative Party, has called for full inquiry to expose those who turned a blind eye to the grooming gangs in the UK, responsible for raping thousands of girls.

Badenoch, in an article, lamented that “Britain has witnessed the mass grooming of thousands of the most vulnerable white working-class girls – children – by gangs of men, many of Pakistani heritage”.

“This was rape on an industrial scale,” she said.

She added that “shockingly, it was a scandal made possible by the collusion and cover-ups of officials, the police and politicians who were more concerned about community relations than about victims and their families”.

She said, “The fact that perpetrators of this sexual violence appeared to have deliberately picked victims because they were white – and not from their own community or religious background – must not be ignored.

“Previous inquiries have failed to examine this. It’s for society and the state to address the issue, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.

“The testimonies of the victims are hard to read. Girls being forced into barbaric sexual acts. Raped by multiple men at the same time or one after the other. Punished by grotesque sexual violence when they resisted.

“Children were identified as targets because of their backgrounds and experienced years of systematic abuse from adult men whose communities in some cases even helped protect them.

“Thousands of girls’ lives have been damaged or destroyed. Worse still, this was perpetrated not in one rotten borough by a few rotten individuals, but across the nation.

“It is just as disturbing to read accounts of collusion between officials and police – people entrusted with protecting the public – to keep the scandal under wraps, and in some cases even to allow the abuse to continue.”

She lamented reading “a shocking example of social workers attending a 'Nikah', an Islamic wedding ceremony, between an abuser and his victim” from court evidence.

Narrating other cases, she mentioned how a father was arrested for trying to retrieve his daughter from “rape dens”.

She said, “Of councils and a police chief collaborating to keep the extent of the child rape scandal out of the headlines for fear of inflaming community relations or being called racist. And of academics and charity workers drafting obfuscatory reports to conceal the true scale of the problem. This can never be allowed to happen again.”

Badenoch, however, recognized the efforts of a “number of heroes” who fought “a lonely battle against not only a conspiracy of silence but active hostility that victims faced from officialdom”.

She said, “Failing councils were taken over, like Rotherham in 2015. Grooming gang members were prosecuted.

“The Grooming Gang TaskForce, launched in April 2023, made over 500 arrests in its first year.

“But we still need to know the extent to which institutions like the police, prosecutors, local government and social services are compromised by wrong-headed political correctness, and even self-interest.

“Only then can we have any hope of upholding our laws and culture, and preventing this scale of abuse ever again.

“That is why I have called for a full national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal. It must have the powers needed to go further than local inquiries have done.”

“The inquiry I want to see should start by considering the likely racial or religious motivation of these crimes,” she said.

“It should identify all of the institutions and bodies that failed. It should also identify those individuals who facilitated or ignored these crimes so they can be removed from their roles.”

According to her, no lenience should be shown to those “who rape and exploit children, nor can we tolerate those who protect predators”.

[color=orange]SaharaReporters[/color]

Badenoch, in an article, lamented that “Britain has witnessed the mass grooming of thousands of the most vulnerable white working-class girls – children – by gangs of men, many of Pakistani heritage”.

Kemi Badenoch slams ‘PEASANT’ cultures for grooming gangs ‘They thought they’d GET AWAY with it’


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpLM349Eaco?si=eswbhS1YMxH18Ayt