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Falana, Falz lead protest over kidnappings, hardship
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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Activist lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), his son – afrobeats singer, Mr Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, alongside civil society organisations, youth groups, among others, on Friday staged a protest in Lagos.
They demanded urgent action to address worsening insecurity and economic hardship in the country.
The protest came as Nigeria marked Democracy Day, set aside in remembrance of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely acclaimed to have been won by late Chief MKO Abiola.
The election, though regarded as the freest and fairest in the nation’s history, was annuled by the then military government.
Chanting, the protesters converged on the Ikeja Under Bridge, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “No Democracy Without Security,” End Bad Governance,” and “End Insecurity and Kidnapping.”
Others include, “End Hunger,” “Free All Captives Now,”End all anti-people policies now,”
The demonstration was aimed at drawing attention to rising insecurity, economic hardship and policies affecting ordinary Nigerians.
Speaking during the protest, Falana called for the immediate release of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State, expressing concern over their welfare in captivity.
According to him, the protest is not only about demanding the rescue of the abducted victims but also about highlighting broader issues of injustice, insecurity and poverty confronting Nigerians.
“We are protesting the kidnapping of our children in Oyo State. We are also protesting injustice in our country, a situation whereby innocent school children in Oyo and Borno states have been in the custody of criminals for several weeks now.
“We are also protesting injustice meted out to young people who are regularly arrested on the highways by the police.
“We are protesting hunger and poverty in the land, and we are calling on the government to address these challenges,” he said.
Falana, a human rights advocate, lamented the condition of the abducted children and teachers, and regretted the killing of one of the latter.
He called on the authorities to intensify efforts to secure the release of the remaining victims.
Also addressing the protesters, Falz bemoaned what he described as worsening insecurity and economic hardship across the country.
The entertainer and activist said Nigeria was grappling with increasing cases of kidnappings and killings, urging the government to do more in its responsibility of protecting the citizens.
“Everybody can see the worsening insecurity. It is becoming unbearable,” he said.
Falz cited recent abductions in different parts of the country, including the kidnapping of students and the abduction of a relative of a former minister in Oyo State.
“Every Nigerian life matters and must be protected at all costs,” he stated.
He said that the repeated abduction of students had heightened public frustration and anxiety.
Also speaking, human rights activist, Mr Olumide Ogunsanwo, popularly known as Seaking, called for stronger government action to tackle insecurity across the country.
He said Nigerians were demanding better governance and an end to the growing wave of killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes.
“We say no to insecurity. Insecurity has to end,” he said.
Ogunsanwo urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts against bandits, insisting that decisive action, rather than rhetoric, was needed to end the insecurity.
Security operatives maintained presence around the protest venue and monitored activities throughout the demonstration.
(NAN)
The African Democratic Congress has given reasons why its presidential flag bearer Atiku Abubakar was absent at the G100 summit in Abuja.
ADC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, gave the explanation on Tuesday during an interview saying the summit focused on cooperation among political parties rather than individual candidates.
He said the ADC was fully represented at Monday’s meeting, with four of its vice chairmen in attendance, making Atiku’s physical presence unnecessary.
The summit, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, brought together representatives of major opposition parties to discuss possible cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.
News
“Go Back and Repair Our Road!” — Enugu Residents Turn APC Campaign Ground Into Assessment Session(Video)
Drama unfolded in Enugu North when a man reportedly campaigning for the APC in Peter Mbah-branded clothing was confronted by residents over the condition of their community.
Instead of the expected campaign applause, residents turned the encounter into an impromptu accountability hearing.
Community: “As you were coming here, how did the road look?”
APC Supporter: “It is very terrible.”
Community: “Go and tell the people who sent you to come and construct the road for us.”
APC Supporter: “I will inform them.”
The residents did not stop there.
Community: “Is that not a primary school your community members attend? How is it?”
APC Supporter: “It is bad.”
And just like that, the campaign rally became a road-and-school inspection.
The Defence Headquarters has said the reported withdrawal of about 200 United States personnel from Nigeria will not affect the country’s security cooperation with the US, describing the development as a routine adjustment tied to specific operational objectives.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj Gen S. Uba, stated this on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the joint security spokespersons briefing.
Uba said the withdrawal should not be interpreted as a breakdown or termination of the longstanding security partnership between Nigeria and the United States.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to clarify that the reported withdrawal of about 200 United States personnel should not be interpreted as a breakdown or termination of the Nigeria-United States security partnership,” he said.
According to him, the relationship between both countries remains “strong, enduring, and mutually beneficial,” noting that the deployment of American personnel was linked to specific operational and counterterrorism objectives.
“The decision to draw down personnel is therefore part of the evolving nature of that engagement. Elements of the United States security partnership, particularly intelligence cooperation, training and information sharing, will continue,” Uba added.
He stressed that the responsibility for defending Nigeria and protecting its citizens remained primarily with Nigerian security forces, while noting that cooperation with the US aimed to strengthen the capabilities of the Nigerian military.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria has consistently maintained that the responsibility for the defence of Nigeria and the protection of its citizens rests primarily with Nigerian security forces,” the DDI said.
He explained that the bilateral security partnership covered intelligence sharing, training, technical assistance and other forms of professional military cooperation.
“Our cooperation with the United States is designed to strengthen our capabilities through intelligence sharing, training, technical assistance, and other forms of professional military cooperation,” he said.
Uba said that when Nigeria and the US jointly assessed the need for additional interventions, including joint strikes, they carried them out.
“Where it is jointly assessed that additional efforts, including joint strikes, are required, we do that,” he stated.
The defence spokesman said the partnership had continued to yield positive results in the fight against terrorism and other transnational security threats.
“Indeed, the Nigeria-United States partnership has continued to produce valuable outcomes in the fight against terrorism and other transnational security threats,” he said.
Uba urged the media and members of the public not to interpret the adjustment in the presence of foreign military personnel as an indication of weakening security cooperation or Nigeria’s defence capacity.
“We equally call on the media and the Nigerian public to avoid interpreting a routine or mission-specific adjustment in foreign military presence as evidence of a collapse in Nigerian security cooperation or national defence capability,” he said.
He reiterated that the Nigeria-US security relationship remained enduring and that cooperation in areas of mutual interest was expected to continue.
The clarification came after US officials said most of the additional forces deployed for the Lake Chad operation had returned following the completion of their mission, while intelligence sharing and broader security cooperation with Nigeria would continue.
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