In the mass protest that began early October 2020, shortly after the Nigerian Labour Congress called off its scheduled nationwide protest, late September, thousands of youths, whose tension was already bottled up by various experiences of police brutalities cum the COVID-19 lockdown, and who could not control their erupting urge for resistance, took to the streets across various states in the country.

Fast forward to October 20, 2020, the protests had grounded Nigeria, gained international attention and supports until the shooting at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos, by the Nigerian military, began.

It was a silent night, as protesting Nigerian youths began to mourn their colleagues. Admittance and denials began from state authorities,  since then, the question: ‘Who ordered the shooting?’ is still being asked.

Few days after October 20, 2020, protesters’ arrests began even amid judicial panels set up across states to investigate cases of police brutality, before and during the #ENDSARS uprising.

On November 13, 2020, nine youths were arrested by the Oyo State Police Command over their involvement in the #ENDSARS protest, which the the state government claimed to have led to the killing of police personnel.

Adeshina Muyiwa, Ikechuckwu Eze, Ariyo Sodiq, Ikenna Amaechi, Oyewole Olumide, Ariyo Afeez, Taoreed Abiodun, Adekunle Moruf, Rasheed Tiamiyu, are currently being prosecuted by the state government.

They were charged with five counts bordering on murder, stealing of police rifles, and other ammunitions, and setting of police station ablaze.

The nine of them, whose case has suffered several adjournments since 2020, are languishing in Agodi prison, Ibadan, the state capital.

Arrested between October 23 and 25, 2020, Ismail Muftao, Sodiq Sulaimon, Yahaya Mustapha, and Faruq Abdulquadri are being charged with arson and robbery, and tried at the ENDSARS Court 2, Yaba Magistrate Court.

According to a civil society organisation, the Take It Back Movement, which is providing legal assistance to them, Muftau was arrested at his Ikorodu residence and was only taken to court three times (with the court not sitting) since detention at Kirikiri maximum prison. “His previous court appearance was December 17, 2020. He has only been to court once this year which is June 24, 2022,” a leader of the TIB, Banwo Olagookun told The PUNCH.

Sulaimon, who was arrested at his Ijora residence, according to the organisation, also last appeared in the court on June 24, 2022. According to the CSO, Jamiu Sani, Segun Adeniji, Ibrahim Adesanya, Daniel Joyibo, Dare Williams, Onuora Odih, Jeremiah Lucky, Gideon Ikwujoma, Haruna Adekunjo, Irinyemi Oluwanbe, Joshua Adeleke, Kabiru Ajetunmobi, Moses Ofoke, Quadri Azeez, Sodiq Riliwan, Olamide Lekan, Idris Lawus, Charles Adele have been transferred to Ikoyi prisons from Kirikiri maximum prisons.

Another individual, Sunday Okoro, was said to have been granted bail since 2021 but had yet to meet his stringent bail conditions. Okoro was said to have been hospitalised for over a month in the prison, and is still languishing in the Kirikiri maximum prison.

Police brutality has not left the Nigerian streets since the mass protests against the menace in 2020.
Numerous cases of assaults and extortions by the police had been recorded, with the police force dismissing those found wanting.

on Thursday, September 27, a viral video in which two policemen were seen assaulting the two brothers. One of the brothers, who filmed the assault, claimed that the policemen threatened to kill his brother over vehicle papers.

In the video, one of the brothers tackled the policeman, who physically assaulted him, while another officer warned the other one to stop recording the scene.

The man recording the video said the police were threatening to kill his brother because of vehicle particulars and driver’s licence, labeling them as thieves. The Bayelsa State Police Command has also commenced grilling of the two officers.

Abolongo correctional facility was attacked by the gunmen at about 10 pm on Friday, October 22. It was gathered that the gunmen set all the prisoners at the facility free during the attack.

They allegedly used grenades to gain access and set prisoners free. The attack left the facility in disarray with warders scampering for safety.

Other security agencies have been mobilised to support men and women of the Nigerian Correctional Service in tracking down the fleeing gunmen and rearresting the prisoners.

Udom assented to the bill after it was presented to him by Attorney General of the State, Uko Udom, in the presence of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Aniekan Bassey at the Government House in Uyo.

Akwa Ibom now joins Rivers, Bayelsa, Oyo, Ekiti, Abia, Lagos and Enugu as states with anti-open grazing legislation. It is the eighth state in southern Nigeria to enact the law.

Relevant authorities of government have been directed to ensure the law is enforced in the state by Governor Udom who also stated that culprits must be brought to book.

Following the news, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, expressed shock over the death of Ajiboye.

A statement issued on Monday, in Ibadan, by Moses Alao, the Special Assistant (Print) to the Governor made this known.

Makinde described the sudden demise of Ajiboye as a painful loss, saying he was a vivacious and easy-going man, “always full of life and ever so ready to advance the cause of the Fresh FM Stations”.

He prayed God to grant the chairman of the Fresh FM Stations, Yinka Ayefele, the Ajiboye family, and the management of the FM stations the fortitude to bear the loss.

The governor equally prayed for the repose of the soul of the renowned media and entertainment chief.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Taiwo Adisa, disclosed this in a statement released on Tuesday in Ibadan.

Adisa revealed that while the evacuation process started months ago, the relocation of the beggars formally commenced on Tuesday morning.

The beggars conveyed from their shanties on Jemibewon Road, Sabo area of Ibadan to the newly built Akinyele Resettlement Centre, which was earlier toured by Arewa community leaders, and representatives of the beggars on Saturday.

Adisa also disclosed in the statement that “the State’s Commissioner for Environment, Barrister Idowu Oyeleke, who led the first set of evacuees to Akinyele, said that the new site is fitted with social amenities including schools, hospitals, and recreation centres.”

The health agency confirmed this in a tweet on Tuesday night.

16 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja were identified as states with the new infections.

Even as the country continues to record new cases, it seems as if there will be light at the end of the tunnel with over 13,792 patients, who have recovered from COVID-19 and have been discharged in different states.

But it quite unfortunate the country has also recorded 754 death from COVID-19 complications

Lagos State remains the epicentre for the virus with 128 new infections, bringing the total infections in the state to 12, 711.

Other states with new infections are Kwara – 92, Enugu – 39, Delta – 33, Edo – 29, Plateau – 28, Kaduna – 23, Oyo – 15 with Ogun and Osun each having cases.

Though new infections in the FCT stand at 12, relatively low when compared to 99 cases as of July 13, states like Ondo and Rivers each reported 9 fresh infections.

Meanwhile, states with fewer cases include Abia – 8, Bayelsa – 5, Ekiti – 3 and Borno – 2.

See Tweet below: 

463 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

Lagos-128
Kwara-92
Enugu-39
Delta-33
Edo-29
Plateau-28
Kaduna-23
Oyo-15
Ogun-14
Osun-14
FCT-12
Ondo-9
Rivers-9
Abia-8
Bayelsa-5
Ekiti-3
Borno-2

33,616 confirmed
13,792 discharged
754 deaths pic.twitter.com/0F4zsoNjCt

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) July 14, 2020

NCDC confirmed this via its Twitter page on Monday night.

The health agency confirmed that 25, 133 persons  tested positive to the virus, including 9,402 patients who have recovered and has been discharged.

It also confirmed that 573 people have died due to the COVID-19 related symptoms.

Lagos state as the epicentre for the virus recorded 166 new cases, followed by Oyo and Delta, who recorded 66 and 53 new cases respectively.

Other states:  Ebonyi (43), Plateau (34), Ondo (32), FCT (26), Ogun (25), Edo (24), Imo (15), Bayelsa (13), Benue (12), Gombe (11), Kano (11), Kaduna (11), Osun (8), Nasarawa (7), Borno (5), Katsina (2), Anambra (2)

See tweet below

566 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

Lagos-166
Oyo-66
Delta-53
Ebonyi-43
Plateau-34
Ondo-32
FCT-26
Ogun-25
Edo-24
Imo-15
Bayelsa-13
Benue-12
Gombe-11
Kano-11
Kaduna-11
Osun-8
Nasarawa-7
Borno-5
Katsina-2
Anambra-2

25,133 confirmed
9,402 discharged
573 deaths pic.twitter.com/cTRnI4xulq

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) June 29, 2020

The states which received the donations are Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun.

The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who took to his Twitter page to appreciate NNPC and IPPG, disclosed that he received the donations on behalf of the other state.

He tweeted:“Today, on behalf of the South West States, I took delivery of six ambulances, respiratory masks, PPEs and other safety equipment donated by the @NNPCgroup and Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) to support our efforts to combat #COVID19 in the states.

“On behalf of the other SW Governors of Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun state, I also commend the donors for this gesture as we again restate our commitment to work with all partners and the Federal Government to end this scourge as quickly as possible in our country.”