ENDSARS
Soldiers take over streets of Abuja due to #EndSARS protests
The Nigerian Army has deployed soldiers to several parts of Abuja to curtail the violent outcome of the EndSARS protests.
Soldiers have been deployed to the streets of Abuja and stationed in strategic places to arrest the escalating #EndSARS protests.
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According to media reports, this development is coming amid protests by Nigerians who have been demanding for an end to police brutality and comprehensive reforms of the Nigerian Police Force.
The protests, which have been ongoing for about 2 weeks across the country, have in some cases gone out of hand in Abuja with suspected hoodlums attacking #EndSARS protesters as well as pro-SARS groups.
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The situation has led to clashes that left several persons injured with vehicles and other property damaged.
There have been reports that a protester, who was stabbed by one of such hoodlums, died in a hospital.
READ: #EndSARS: Bola Tinubu reacts to allegation of sponsoring the protests
This is also coming after protesters defied the rain on Sunday night to camp outside and block access to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) headquarters.
It was also gathered that the security agencies including the army had dislodged protesters who blocked the popular AYA Roundabout on Monday, armed soldiers were seen patrolling to ensure the flow of traffic.
They mounted barricades as they tried to manage the situation. There were reports of similar scenarios in other parts of the city as the protesters divide themselves into groups and operate from various locations.
It can be recalled that the Nigerian army had denied that the ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ which is supposed to kick off from October 20 to December 31, was not targeted at #EndSARS protesters but is a yearly exercise in the Nigerian Army calendar which traditionally holds from October to December of each year.
Though the Army Spokesperson Col Musa Sagir has said the exercise has no relationship with any lawful protest under any guise whatsoever, many have insinuated it was meant to break the protests.
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Business
ICPC Chairman reveals #EndSARS protests was financed with cryptocurrency
ICPC Chairman has revealed to the Nigerian Senate that the #EndSARS protest was largely funded with cryptocurrency.
The Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Commission (ICPC), Bolaji Owasanoye has revealed to the Nigerian Senate that the #EndSARS protest was largely funded with cryptocurrency.
This is as he said there are strong indications that it could be used to fund Insurgency in the country.
According to a report from Vanguard, this disclosure was made by the ICPC Chairman, during an interactive session with Senate Joint Committee on Banking, ICT, Cybercrime and Capital Market led by Senator Uba Sani on Tuesday, February 23, 2021.
READ: ICPC uncovers N9.8 billion Government money hidden in Aso Savings
The Joint committee was mandated to look at the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ban Cryptocurrency in Nigeria.
The ICPC boss while supporting the position of the CBN, said that the nature of operations of Cryptocurrency exposes it to money laundering and terrorism financing.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has said that the agency averted a $3million fraud linked to 20 bank accounts.
READ: ICPC moves against NDDC top management over corruption allegations, quizzes directors
Owasanoye further explained that the anti-graft agency currently has a number of cases linked to Cryptocurrency but is unable to track the suspects.
He brought the attention of the Senate to a period in 2018 when a number of globally rated financial institutions said their financial statements had been hacked with the perpetrators asking to be paid in Cryptocurrencies.
ICPC Chairman noted that the CBN as a regulator has the responsibility to ensure sound financial stability and it will be difficult to achieve in the case of Cryptocurrencies where the players are anonymous.
While sharing the experience of the Indian Supreme Court and how it ruled and admitted that it does not know what it is, he urged the Lawmakers to as a matter of urgency, take decisive action against Cryptocurrencies.
READ: Most powerful financial leader takes side with CBN, says Bitcoin is untrustworthy
What you should know
- It can be recalled that the CBN had directed the financial institutions to immediately close the accounts of such persons or entities transacting in or operating cryptocurrency exchanges, warning of severe regulatory sanctions in the event of any breach of the directive.
- The apex bank warned the Deposit Money Banks, Non-Financial Institutions and other Financial Institutions against doing business in crypto and other digital assets.
- The latest directive is coming after the CBN had in 2018 stated that cryptocurrencies are not legal tender and as such are illegal.
ENDSARS
#OccupyLekkiTollGate: Lagos Attorney-General explains large police presence at Lekki toll gate
Lagos Attorney-General has stated that the State does not support the abuse of peaceful protesters.
William
October 19, 2020 at 3:57 pm
Dear Chile, please help us in ibeju Lekki, what is happening here is not peaceful demonstration but share oppression by tugs.kindly help escalate.
Saki
October 20, 2020 at 10:22 pm
It’s a shame that they will unleash army on peaceful protesters who are without arms, where we’re the armies when bokoharams headsmen are killing citizens. They paid the huddlums to come and distropt the peaceful protest Tinubu and Co Nemesis will catch with you and your lineage those who died are the Heroes.bloody power testy fellow you killed all those on you way. U will not know peace Ase gun. The presidency is mute and giving commands to kill in a democracy.
Ogbeide Joshua
October 21, 2020 at 5:50 am
This the biggest shame.
They are at home sitting down enjoying our billions and trillions of naira meant for d growth of d country, yet they send army on protesters fighting for d betterment of the country.
I want to ask these armies are you not human? Don’t you armies have families? Why allowing some kind of bad leaders set a fight you know nothing about? We are Nigerians meant to fight for our right and that includes fighting to end bad leaders.
Look at Dubai, Ghana and other countries we are more resources than them but yet they are more of civilized because they have good leadership. Soldiers have you ask yourself why most of you receive low salaries yet you are always at the front putting your life at risk to defend a fight you know nothing about while some kind of leaders collect allowances and salary millions and also taking billions meant to build a better Nigeria
Soldiers think for a better Nigeria.
Aritular Abass
October 24, 2020 at 6:56 am
From one tragedy to another,may God liberate us in Nigeria from bondage of the wicked
Aritular Abass
October 24, 2020 at 7:03 am
From one tragedy to another,may God liberate us in Nigeria from bondage of the wicked