World leaders condemned fatal stabbings in the French city of Nice Thursday that France called an Islamist terrorist attack .
Condemnation came from US President Donald Trump , UN chief Antonio Guterres , as well as European , Arab and Israeli leaders .
“ Our hearts are with the people of France . America stands with our oldest Ally in this fight , ” Trump tweeted. “ These Radical Islamic terrorist attacks must stop immediately. No country, France or otherwise can long put up with it!”
One of the first to condemn was Turkey , embroiled in a row with France over the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that have triggered a wave of attacks against French people.
“ We strongly condemn the attack committed today inside the Notre -Dame church in Nice , ” a Turkish foreign ministry statement said .
It expressed solidarity with France , and offered condolences to relatives of the three people killed in the attack .
– ‘ Hateful terror attack ’ –
Iran ’ s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also condemned the attack , while adding that “ peace cannot be achieved with ugly provocation ”.
Elsewhere in the Middle East , Arab and Islamic leaders drew a clear distinction between their religion and violent acts that claimed to defend it .
Egypt ’ s foreign ministry said it “ stands as a government and people with … France in combating this hateful incident ”.
Qatar voiced strong condemnation and reiterated its rejection of violence and terrorism , especially against places of worship and regardless of the motives .
Lebanese prime minister - designate Saad Hariri urged Muslims “to reject this criminal act that has nothing to do with Islam or the Prophet ” .
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison slammed the killing as “ an attack on liberty . When we think of France , we think of liberty . And we stand with the people of France . ”
– EU solidarity –
European Union leaders quickly expressed solidarity with France , and pledged to confront “ those that seek to incite and spread hatred ” .
“ I condemn the odious and brutal attack that has just taken place in Nice and I am with France with all my heart , ” European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen tweeted.
“ We will remain united and determined in the face of barbarity and fanaticism. ” German Chancellor Angela Merkel was “deeply shaken by the brutal murders ” and said “my thoughts are with the relatives of those murdered and injured . Germany stands with France at this difficult time. ”
In a statement issued later by EU Council chief Charles Michel, the 27 leaders expressed solidarity with France but made no reference to the controversy over cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed .
– ‘ Vile attack ’ –
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte condemned a “ cowardly attack ” and said : “ Our convictions are stronger than fanaticism, hatred and terror . We embrace the families of the victims and our French brothers. We are united !” Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez added : “ We continue to defend freedom , our democratic values , peace and the security of our citizens . ”
– Harder tone from Hungary –
A harder tone came from Hungary , where populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote that the attack showed clearly “ that our culture , our way of life and our European values are in the crosshairs of extremist terrorism .
“ We are ready to join forces in order to protect traditional European values and the traditional European way of life , ” Orban added .
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz , who previously governed with far -right ministers, called the murders in Nice “ a despicable Islamist terror attack ” .
“ We will defend our values and European ‘ way of life’ with all our might against Islamists and political Islam , ” Kurz said .
– India , UK ‘stand with France ’ –
Indian premier Narendra Modi , a Hindu nationalist , strongly condemned the “ heinous attack in Nice ” and added that his country also “ stands with France in the fight against terrorism . ”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was “ appalled” at the “ barbaric attack at the Notre - Dame Basilica , ” he tweeted in English and French .
“ Our thoughts are with the victims and their families , and the UK stands steadfastly with France against terror and intolerance. ”
– ‘ Sowing death’ –
Pope Francis prayed for the victims as the Vatican said that “ terrorism and violence can never be accepted .
“ Today ’ s attack has sown death in a place of love and consolation, ” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said .
The pontiff urged people in France , a multi - cultural society , to “unite to combat evil with good ” .
During talks with the Italian foreign minister , Israeli President Reuven Rivlin warned : “The attempt to foment war between religions is inconceivable .
“ There is no war between Christianity and Islam , or between Judaism and Islam and we must be sure that no one is allowed to make that happen. ”
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, on Thursday, disclosed that no fewer than 800,000 babies die of poor breastfeeding yearly across the globe.
Oyebanji stated that poor breastfeeding was largely responsible for high infant mortality in Nigeria, which he said was being gradually checkmated due to the advent of exclusive breastfeeding and improved medical practices.
Filani spoke in Ado Ekiti on Thursday at a press parley commemorating the 2020 edition of breastfeeding week in Ekiti State.
The Commissioner said Ekiti was rated as having 55.4 percent compliance with the first six months exclusive breastfeeding in 2019, saying the improvement in Ekiti was due to proactive action taken by Governor Kayode Fayemi to increase sensitisation in the state.
“Findings have shown that investing in breastfeeding will prevent 13 percent of child deaths and morbidity if 90 percent of mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months of life.
“Globally, only 38 percent of infants are exclusively breastfed and suboptimal breastfeeding contributes to 800,000 infant deaths globally on annual basis.
“So, any baby who is exclusively breastfed for the first six months without any formula, has fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhoea and has fewer hospitalisations and trips to the doctor.
“It is so significant that it has helped to remove the myth and unacceptable use of herbs and concoctions for neonate and young children”.
Filani added that exclusive breastfeeding would reduce child mortality and rake in a sum of $150 million into the Nigerian economy yearly.
The commissioner said as part of the policy that would enhance adequate care for infants in Ekiti, that six months had been approved for Maternity Leave for female civil servants, while the government is considering granting of Paternity leave to make both parents responsible for the care of the newborns. He appealed to mothers to refrain from unwholesome cultural practices mandating giving of water and other fluids to newborns and embrace exclusive breastfeeding to boost baby’s immunities and reduce morbidity and mortality rates in the system.
Popular media personality, Toke Makinwa has revealed she recently tested positive to COVID-19.
Sharing her experience on her vlog, the Rhythm FM OAP disclosed that the last two weeks has been really tough for her.
Her words: “The COVID-19 experience I have been missing in action for a bit guys, the last two weeks of my life has been pretty tough to handle. I tested positive to COVID-19 and my experience wasn’t great (I mean it’s Covid), shooting this Vlog was a lot as I am not a 100 percent yet, but I’m hopeful the worst days are behind me.
The self-acclaimed “baby girl for life” noted that the second phase of the deadly virus is in town and urged the public to take precautions.
“Covid is real guys, there is a second wave of the virus � in town and it is spreading really fast.”
While stating that she doesn’t know how she caught the virus, Toke stressed that for her, the worst phase was contact tracing, having to call people she had been exposed to.
“I can’t say for sure where I caught it but the worst thing for me was contact tracing. Having to call people I have been exposed to, to tell them to quarantine and trace people they have also been exposed to, the whole thing is a mess. I share my experience on the Vlog today which is late I know but pls be patient with me, the road to recovery is a lot, I am tired all the time, I have a bit of memory loss and I’m trying to find out what day is what ���”
“�. Doesn’t help that Nigeria itself has gone through something in this time too. Phewwww!!!! Watch full video on my YouTube channel, link is in my bio and pls subscribe too. Health is the real wealth guys, pls be safe out there. My birthday is in less than a week, I just want to be a � again. Covid is real, wear your mask and wash your hands always. Ok bye ✌️”. She added.
If your love-life is flagging, you’re always advised to change your partner! A bit drastic, but it could be extremely inconvenient socially but there is one thing you definitely ought to try first – that is changing the background.
Many couples who have made love year after year in the same bed have discovered that their sex lives are mysteriously revitalized when they go on holiday or stay in a hotel.
Although they may attribute it to rest and ‘change in the air’, the novelty of new surroundings is probably more instrumental in this revival of libido. Yet, not all of us could afford the luxury of a good holiday or the price of a decent hotel room.
The alternative is to redecorate your bedroom to create an erotic atmosphere by investing in larger beds, sexy sheets, and strategically placed mirrors.
You can also try other rooms in the house that you do not usually think of as a venue for sex, such as the bathroom or even the guest room! And the light from the TV set in the living room has been known to be quite romantic, and if you choose the right kind of erotic programme, this can also enhance your love-making!
If you find these methods a bit daunting, then think of a spur-of-the-moment atmosphere. Like the great outdoor for instance! There is something very exciting about going back to nature, making love among trees, long grass or with the sound of waterfalls on the beach in your ears! Unfortunately, there are certain hazards and you have to be wary of insect bites, stinging nettles, poison ivy, and trigger-happy busy meat hunters with their Dane guns, who sometimes shoot at anything that moves and only afterward try to identify it. Sand in the works can also be very uncomfortable.
Another possible hazard of outdoor sex is the discovery by the authorities – the over-zealous policeman always rapping on car-locked windows or kicking at writhing bodies! Sometimes ago, two British tourists were sentenced to jail for getting carried away by making love publicly on a Greek beach. Apparently, a crowd of several hundred spectators had gathered to watch the performance before the police arrived to spoil everybody’s fun. Through all the ‘friendly’ encounter, argued the couple, no private citizen had deemed it fit to intervene as they might have done if the pair had been fighting, yet the court was totally unsympathetic to them! Similarly, in Britain, when a well-known businessman was discovered having MouthAction with a girl-friend on the bandstand in a public part, the court proceedings destroyed his marriage. In this case, the couple was charged with indecency even though it was pitch dark, the park was closed for the night and the act was witnessed only by the constable who shone his torch on them! And in a rather more liberated precedent, the Italian courts once ruled that sexual intercourse in a car is legal if the couple is sufficiently passionate to steam up the windows!
It is common knowledge that some lovers get a particular kick out of having undetected sex in public places under the very nose of unsusp0ecting people, for example, while sitting on a park bench of dancing at a party. This is facilitated if the couple goes out wearing no pants! One young writer claims to have made love to his girlfriend on several occasions while sitting on the couch watching TV with her parents.
“Many people believe that making love at night when it is dark is the decent, natural thing to do. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the animal world, sex normally occurs in the day-time, along with eating and most other kinds of activity. The night is reserved mainly for sleeping. This pattern is seen in nearly all mammals, including our nearest relatives among the primates, and there is reason to believe that it applies to humans too.
For example, the secretion of testosterone, the hormone responsible for sex drive, rises to a peak in the morning and falls sharply in the evening. Therefore, it seems probable that our natural love-making urges are stronger when we are fresh and active in the daytime. The human shift to nocturnal sex must then be a culturally determined tendency – society prefers that we concentrate on work during the day. True, there is an instinct in animals that motivates them to seek privacy for copulation but the love of darkness is not a favoured solution.
A man wielding a knife at a church in the French city of Nice killed three people, slitting the throat of at least one , and injured several others before being apprehended by police , officials said Thursday .
French anti - terror prosecutors have opened an inquiry into what the city ’ s Mayor Christian Estrosi called an “ Islamo- fascist attack . ”
“ He (the attacker) kept repeating ‘ Allahu Akbar ’ ( God is Greater ) even while under medication ” after he was injured during his arrest , Estrosi told journalists at the scene .
Two victims died at the Basilica of Notre - Dame , in the heart of the city on the Mediterranean coast , while a third person died of injuries after seeking refuge in a nearby bar , a police source told AFP .
“ The situation is now under control , ” police spokeswoman Florence Gavello said .
France has been on high alert for terror attacks since the January 2015 massacre at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. The trial of suspected accomplices in that attack is underway in Paris.
In Nice , in particular , painful memories remain fresh of the jihadist attack during the Bastille Day fireworks on July 14 , 2016 , when a man rammed his truck into a crowded promenade , killing 86 people .
It was part of a wave of jihadist attacks on French soil , often by so -called “ lone wolf ” assailants , which has killed more than 250 people since 2015 .
The assault prompted lawmakers in parliament to hold a minute ’ s silence on Thursday before Prime Minister Jean Castex and other ministers abruptly left for an emergency meeting with President Emmanuel Macron .
Estrosi, who said Macron would soon be arriving in Nice , called for churches around the country to be given added security or to be closed as a precaution .
– Tensions high – The attack comes just days after thousands rallied across France in solidarity with a teacher beheaded for showing pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
The history teacher , Samuel Paty , was killed by an 18 - year - old Chechen man , Abdullakh Anzorov , who committed the gruesome crime outside Paty ’ s school in a Paris suburb after the teacher was denounced by angry parents on social media .
His murder prompted Macron to promise a crackdown on Islamic extremism , including shutting down mosques and organizations accused of fomenting radicalism and violence .
But the move has inflamed tensions with many Muslims saying Macron is unfairly targeting France ’ s estimated five to six million Muslims — the largest community in Europe .
Protests against France have erupted in several Muslim countries , with some urging a boycott of French goods , and tensions have flared in particular between Macron and Turkey ’ s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan .
#EndSARS: Ganduje reinstates media aide suspended for criticising Buhari
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje , on Wednesday night , ordered the reinstatement of his Special Adviser on Media , Salihu Yakasai .
The PUNCH had reported on October 11 , 2020 that Yakasai lambasted the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , for not addressing Nigerians amid national outrage as well as days of online and offline protests against the Special Anti- Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force .
Yakasai , who tweeted through his handle , @ dawisu , had said the President has no empathy for Nigerians by his inaction . Reacting in a statement , the Kano State Government had described Yakasai ’ s comments as “ unguarded utterances” and suspended him “ with immediate effect ”.
But in a tweet on Wednesday , the state government , @ KanostateNg , wrote , “ H . E Governor Dr . Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR has approved the reinstatement of his Special Adviser on Media , Salihu Tanko Yakasai from his suspension . ”
Ganduje had in April sacked the state ’ s Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mu ’ azu Magaji , for celebrating the death of the Chief of Staff to the President , Abba Kyari.
Following widespread looting and arson by suspected hoodlums , the Inspector - General of Police , Mohammed Adamu , has ordered police commanders to immediately stop the descent to anarchy across the country.
Adamu directed the immediate mobilisation of all police operational assets and resources to bring an end to the wanton violence , killings , looting and destruction of public and private property , and reclaim the public space from “criminal elements masquerading as protesters in some parts of the country. ”
According to a statement by the Force spokesman , DCP Frank Mba , the IGP gave the order to all Assistant Inspectors - General of Police , Commissioners of Police , heads of police operational Units , Squadron and Base Commanders in charge of Zonal /State / FCT Commands , the Police Mobile Force , Counter - Terrorism Unit and the Special Protection Unit , on October 24 , 2020 .
“ In addition , CPs and heads of police formations in the various states had also been charged to mobilize their men and work in sync with the command CPs in the areas where they are domiciled , to dominate the public space and ensure peace and safety in the affected areas , ” the statement said .
It was titled, ‘ Reclaim the public space and restore normalcy , IG orders AIGs , CPs, CPs , others. ’
Looting and vandalisation of public and private properties had been going on for the past five days with the security forces unable to stop it.
In Abuja on Saturday, suspected hoodlums stormed the FCT Social Welfare Secretariat , Area 10 , Garki , in an attempt to loot a COVID- 19 warehouse located in the area .
Policemen and other security personnel guarding the store fired gunshots and tear gas to deter the youths while the traders at the UTC market , Area 10 , Garki, Abuja and residents of the area quaked in fear .
A graphics designer , Segun Stickers , said the UTC market and the big shopping plaza in the area were shut down following the incident .
“ We are locked inside the UTC market . The police are firing gunshots and tear gas to stave off the attack by the hoodlums who were trying to loot the COVID- 19 palliatives kept in a warehouse here .
All Progressives Congress chieftain , Bola Tinubu , has lamented the invasion and wanton looting of public and private assets in the state of late .
Tinubu made this known on Saturday when he paid a visit to Lagos State Governor , Babajide Sanwo - Olu , at the State House in Marina .
Addressing journalists after the meeting with the governor , Tinubu said he did not travel out of the country as reported by some sections of the media (not The PUNCH ) .
He told reporters that the purpose of his meeting with Sanwo- Olu was to ask him if he had ordered soldiers to attack # EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday .
The former Lagos governor said he asked Sanwo- Olu “ if he didn ’ t order the attack , who ordered the attack ? That ’ s all I needed from him . ”
Tinubu has come under fire in the last few days over the Lekki incident as rampaging hoodlums burnt down investments reportedly linked with him including a television station , a newspaper house as well as assets of the Lekki Concession Company , the managers of the toll gate .
Speaking on Saturday, Tinubu stressed the need for a thorough investigation into Tuesday night attack .
He said , “First , we have to segregate the calendar – those who suffered casualty before the protests from the hands of SARS. You have to separate that from those who suffered casualty due to what happened at the toll gate .
“ For those who suffered casualty from SARS, the Commission of Inquiry that is already set up will unearth that and will make their recommendations . I trust the calibre and the character of the people there, they are independent. That is one .
“ Those who suffered casualty during the gunshots need to answer some questions too. Even though we want to help, we still must extract information that will help the government to prepare in future and understand how and when to react because the governor , in particular , is a youth.
“ As a youth himself , he ( Sanwo- Olu ) quickly went to Abuja with the 5 / 5 . The government immediately put into action , dissolved the SARS and had to work through other recommended actions , the needs they demanded . Within a few days , he reported back to the public . That is responsive enough .
“ But where are we getting the looting , the carnage , the burning , the invasion of police stations, stealing of arms , maiming of the innocent ? It is a handshake beyond the elbow . ”
Asked about his whereabouts in the past few days , Tinubu said , “ I didn ’ t go nowhere ; I ’ m a Lagosian and I still hold the title of Asiwaju of Lagos and I am still a Jagaban .
“ Fake news is all over the place. They say Seyi my son was kidnapped and was chased but look at him . I didn ’ t pay a penny to bring him here . ”
Tuesday night attack at the Lekki toll gate has been condemned by both local and international civil rights organisations and personalities .
Femi Adesina , the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , says former President Olusegun Obasanjo commended Buhari ’ s speech on the # EndSARS protests last night .
According to Adesina , Obasanjo told Buhari at a virtual meeting of heads of states on Friday that he “ made points that I believe need to be commended ” . The Presidential media aide made this known in a statement titled, ‘ How EndSARS Protest Was Hijacked ; Misdirected , President Buhari Tells Former Heads Of State ’ .
Adesina quoted Obasanjo as saying, ” I commend the speech of last night . The nation had been waiting. You made points that I believe need to be commended . Peaceful demonstration is part of democratic practice . The demands of the genuine protesters were accepted , and you are working on implementation . We commend you . ”
Buhari had come under fire by many who described his Thursday speech as one lacking empathy.
The President had also been criticised for keeping silent on the Lekki toll gate shootings of Tuesday night where eyewitnesses said soldiers opened fire on # EndSARS protesters demonstrating against police brutality and seeking the reform of the Nigeria Police Force .
Events had turned violent in the last few days as rampaging hoodlums took advantage of the situation around the country to loot, destroy , and raze public and private assets .
Adesina , however , said Buhari told the past Nigerian leaders at the meeting that he would not fold his arms and allow miscreants destroy the nation.
Adesina quoted Buhari as saying , “It is unfortunate that the initial genuine and well- intended protest of youths in parts of the country against the Special Anti- Robbery Squad was hijacked and misdirected .
” We accepted all the demands and proceeded immediately to scrap SARS and started the process of addressing the other demands.
” Unfortunately , the protesters refused to call off the protest and engage the Government to address their grievances . Instead , they became emboldened and gradually turned violent . ”
Also at the meeting were Gen. Yakubu Gowon , Gen. Ibrahim Babangida , Chief Ernest Shonekan , Gen. Abulsalami Abubakar , and ex -President Goodluck Jonathan .
Peter may have built his church upon a rock, but the ruling king in 12th century Ethiopia decided to build his churches into the rocks themselves.
During his reign 900 years ago, King Lalibela commissioned the building of a set of churches to form a 'New Jerusalem.'
All 11 churches are still standing today in a rural Northern Ethiopian town named after the same King.
What's so unique about these structures though is that they were carved into a solid piece of rock. The inside and outside of the churches were built into the ground on stretches of volcanic tuff rock. Workers would start at the top and carve down creating the roof and walls of the church.Then they would hollow it out to create the interior structure.
They are different because they were built from the top down,' church scholar Alebachev Retta told the Nigerian Tribune. 'Everywhere in the world, structures are built from the ground up. There is nothing comparable in the world.'
The 'New Jerusalem' was created after Muslim conquests made travel to the Holy Land dangerous.
The church structures are in two groups, divided by the Ethiopia's own river Jordan. On the north side of the river stands Biete Medhani Alem (House of the Saviour of the World), Biete Mariam (House of Mary), Biete Maskal (House of the Cross), Biete Denagel (House of Virgins), Biete Golgotha Mikael (House of Golgotha Mikael).
To the south of the river there is Biete Amanuel (House of Emmanuel), Biete Qeddus Mercoreus (House of St. Mercoreos), Biete Abba Libanos (House of Abbot Libanos), Biete Gabriel Raphael (House of Gabriel Raphael), and Biete Lehem (House of Holy Bread).
An eleventh church, Biete Ghiorgis (House of St. George), stands apart from the others, but is connected to them by a series of trenches.
Several differing legends explain why King Lalibela was inspired to build the site. One theory was that God came to him with instructions on how to construct the buildings, even such minor details as color choices.
Another legend supposes that he was poisoned by his brother and went into a coma for several days, where he was handed the instructions during his brief stay in heaven.
Other stories say it was the Templar Knights of Europe who made them or that Lalibela traveled to the actual Jerusalem and wanted to recreate it back home.
A particularly interesting story is that men worked on the construction during the day, and at night angels would pick up the slack - getting twice as much work done.
In Ethiopia, where nearly two-thirds of the population is Christian, Lalibela has become almost important as the real Holy Land.
'It is one of the very important places for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church people,' local guide and Lalibela-native Fikru Woldegiorgis told the Nigerian Tribune. 'There is a belief that Lalibela pilgrims share the same blessing as pilgrims to Jerusalem,' he explains. 'They have to come at least once in a lifetime.'
The saying "What goes up must come down" is an appropriate starting point. If you fire a gun into the air, the bullet will travel up to a mile high (depending on the angle of the shot and the power of the gun). Once it reaches its apogee, the bullet will fall. Air resistance limits its speed, but bullets are designed to be fairly aerodynamic , so the speed is still quite lethal if the bullet happens to hit someone.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed all the bye-elections in 11 states.
In a statement on Thursday, Festus Okoye, INEC spokesman, said the 15 bye-elections have been put on hold as a result of the current security situation.
The elections, for six senatorial districts and nine state constituencies, were scheduled to hold on October 31.
Protests against police brutality under the #EndSARS movement had turned violent resulting in several deaths across the country.
The Nigerian Bar Association on Tuesday condemned the killing of peaceful #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at Lekki tollgate in Lagos.
The NBA President, Mr Olumide Akpata, stated in a statement asked the Nigerian Army to immediately identify the soldiers who carried out the attack and dismiss them from service.
He also said the association would immediately commence legal actions against the Nigerian government and the Army at both international and local fora.
He said the suits would be initiated by the NBA on behalf of the families of the victims, “for abuse of power, disregard of rules of engagement and the infringement of the fundamental rights (including right to life) of the affected citizens”.
He stated in the statement titled, ‘Nigerian Bar Association condemns the killing of peaceful #EndSARS protesters in Lagos by the Nigerian military’, the protesters’ act of misdemeanor of a breach of the curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government “did not warrant the use of live ammunition by the Nigerian military to confront otherwise peaceful, unarmed and defenseless protesters”.
The statement read in part, “The attention of the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) has been drawn to the dastardly shooting and killing of #ENDSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza in Lagos State by some unidentified men of the Nigerian Military on Tuesday, 20th October 2020. From news reports on the incident, many lives were lost in the attack while several others were injured during the melee that ensued. The NBA strongly condemns this act of recklessness and lawlessness by the security apparatus of the Government in what, based on reports available to us, appears to have been a carefully calculated and premeditated attack.
“The NBA states that even if the protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza were in breach of the curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government, such a misdemeanor or breach did not warrant the use of live ammunition by the Nigerian military to confront otherwise peaceful, unarmed and defenseless protesters. To be clear, the events of today are events that we should never see or consider as normal in any democracy. Against the backdrop of this ugly development, the NBA wishes to state as follows:
“The military high command is hereby requested to immediately identify and name the officers involved in this gross professional misconduct for immediate prosecution and dismissal in line with extant laws.
“The NBA shall immediately commence legal proceedings at all relevant fora (both locally and internationally) against the Nigerian Military and other relevant authorities, on behalf of the families of the victims, for abuse of power, disregard of rules of engagement and the infringement of the fundamental rights (including right to life) of the affected citizens.
” Given the degenerating nature of the crisis, an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (the highest decision-making body of the NBA) will be convened within the next 48 hours to review the state of the Nation and take other appropriate steps to decisively deal with the situation and prevent the nation from further going adrift.”
Akpata said the current situation in the country “calls for dynamic leadership and, as critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project”, calling on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) and others in authority “to show uncommon leadership in saving the situation, instead of deploying troops against defenseless citizens whom they swore an oath to protect.”
Politics › Thank You Desmond Elliott For The Bridge You Built by zpakln(op): 5:23pm On Oct 30, 2020
