On Saturday morning, August 3, as many as 11 youths and residents In Yobe State were arrested as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force began clamping down on the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest. SaharaReporters reports that the arrested youths were forcefully taken at their places of residence in Damaturu, Potiskum and Gashua areas of Yobe State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
A source privy to the situation told SaharaReporters that those arrested were deemed to have been at the forefront and outspoken during the ongoing nationwide protest in the state.
The source said,“A number of youths were also arrested in Damaturu and Potiskum in what appears to be an attempt to punish those who were outspoken about the ongoing economic hardship.
“At least 11 youths arrested in Gashua have been taken to state police CID in Damaturu.
“Right now the arrests have been generating tension, as people are concerned that the witchhunt might be expanded to punish all those who participated in the peaceful protests.”
In a similar report, global human rights organisation, Amnesty International had also demanded the immediate release of Umar Danjani — one of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Protesters — who was arrested in Jigawa State.
SaharaReporters learnt that Danjani was arrested on Thursday by the Nigerian Police Force while exercising his constitutional right with other thousands of Nigeria in Jigawa State.
It was learnt further that the police arraigned him yesterday to secure an order to remand him at Birnin Kudi prison in Jigawa State.
“Amnesty International calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Umar Danjani — one of the protesters against hunger — who was hurriedly remanded in Birnin Kudi prison. Subjecting critical voices to intimidation and arbitrary arrests for speaking out is unlawful,” Amnesty International wrote on X.
“Jigawa state Police HQ and DSS have unlawfully arrested and detained Umar Danjani Hadejia for carrying out a protest in Jigawa state. @umarmega,”Comrade Abiyos Roni announced on Thursday.
At least 32 civilians have been killed and 63 injured in an explosion on a popular beach in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
Police said Saturday that the incident, blamed by government on militant Islamist group Al Shabaab, occurred late on Friday evening.
It came as the deadliest attack in Somalia since twin car bombs detonated near a busy market intersection in October 2022, killed at least 100 people.
Police spokesperson Abdifatah Aden said one soldier was killed in addition to the 32 civilians killed at the beach restaurant.
Aden said one of the attackers blew himself up, three others were killed by security forces, while one attacker was captured alive.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre have met with security agencies, saying they had drawn up plans to strengthen the city’s security.
The president’s office said in a post on X, “The government is determined to eliminate the terrorists. The terrorists want to terrify the civilians. Let the civilians report the terrorists hiding among them.”
Somali government officials typically mean Al Shabaab when they use the word terrorist, as Al Shabaab is the terrorist group which controlled much of Somalia before they were pushed back in government counter-offensives.
The militants however remain capable of launching significant attacks on government and other targets, and are believed to be behind the Friday night attack.
And Al Shabab, the Al Qaeda’s East African affiliate, said Saturday afternoon through its radio station that its fighters indeed carried out the attack.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, allegedly shot and killed a young boy in the Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as the #EndBadGovernance protest enters the third day.
The boy was said to have been killed at close range around the Zenith Bank area of Kubwa.
An eyewitness who spoke after the boy was shot said the deceased was not part of the protest.
“The boy was not part of the protesters, he was coming on his own after the police had pointed gun at us from a different position,” the eyewitness said.
Activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, described the incident as an unprovoked murder.
Adeyanju said the boy was just watching the protesters when he was shot dead.
In a message sent to DAILY POST, Adeyanju said: “IGP Kayode Egbetokun and his bloodthirsty men should come and eat the meat of this innocent young guy shot on the neck on close range at Kubwa by Zenith Bank.
“Clearly this is unprovoked murder as the boy was just sight-seeing the protesters of #Endbadgovanance# before this ugly end.”
However, efforts to confirm the incident from the FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, proved were not successful as she’s yet to respond to SMS sent to her.
Hundreds of protesters mostly underaged boys gathered in Kano on Saturday morning on the third day of the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Our correspondent observed that the youths trooped out in areas such as Kurna Asabe, Jain and Brigade to continue the protests.
The State Police Commissioner, Salman Dogo Garba, informed out correspondent that some youths, hiding under a program organized by an unnamed politician at the Nassarawa Palace of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, stormed the streets, chanting anti-government songs.
He said, “It is true that some group of people who took the advantage of a program organized by one politician took to the streets in continuation of their violent protests but we have suppressed them.”
Our correspondent who went through Audu Bako Secretariat in an attempt to get to the State NUJ Office situated at Firm Center, was turned back despite identifying himself as journalist.
Similarly, at the Ahmadu Bello Way, armed policemen blocked the entire road, insisting that nobody will pass through.
An officer who shouted on top of his voice, stressed that there was curfew in the town and nobody will be allowed to go anywhere, including journalists.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had imposed a 24-hour-curfew in Kano after protesters went on rampage on August 1, looting and setting public buildings ablaze.
Football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano has explained why Arsenal blocked striker Eddie Nketiah from leaving the club to join Marseille.
Marseille had identified Nketiah as a replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who left the French Ligue 1 club for Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsia.
However, their €27 million offer was rejected by the Gunners.
According to Romano, Mikel Arteta’s side want at least €35 million plus sell-on clause for Nketiah.
“Understand Arsenal want at least €35m plus sell-on clause for Eddie Nketiah.
“That’s why Arsenal decided to reject €27m proposal from Olympique Marseille, as revealed on Friday.
“No agreement between clubs so far and OM could now start to look also at new options,” Romano wrote on X on Saturday