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JUST IN: Police Seal NLC Office In Lagos Over Planned Nationwide Protests

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…as protesters converge in Lagos

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigeria Police Force has sealed the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) office in Lagos State to prevent the planned nationwide protest against hunger and hardship.

The protest, scheduled by the NLC for February 27 and 28, aimed to address the economic challenges faced by Nigerians.

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Activist and national coordinator of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Hassan Taiwo, shared an image on Monday morning showing armed police personnel stationed in front of the NLC headquarters in the Yaba area of Lagos State.

According to Taiwo, a few comrades were sealed off in the building, uncertain about the developments awaiting them.

The NLC issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Nigerian government regarding widespread hardship, leading to organising the protest.

However, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), urged the NLC to cancel the protest.

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Despite warnings from the government and concerns from other quarters, the NLC insisted that the protest would proceed as planned.

It accused the government of preparing to attack peaceful rallies and alleged the involvement of certain groups in causing violence against protestors.

The NLC President, in a statement, emphasised the right to peaceful protest and warned against suppressing dissent or inflicting violence on peaceful protestors.

The statement also mentioned the potential deployment of state-sponsored terror and expressed the NLC’s determination to proceed with the protest.

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In anticipation of the upcoming organized labor protest set to commence on Tuesday, the ‘Take It Back Movement’, a human rights group, has initiated a nationwide demonstration in Lagos State to address the prevailing economic hardships in the country.

This action occurs despite the caution issued by Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, against violent behavior or activities that could disrupt public order, such as obstructing traffic and impeding commercial operations within the state.

Fayoade reassured residents of Lagos that appropriate security measures had been enacted to safeguard lives and property, regardless of any protest activity.

However, disregarding the police warning, the ‘Take It Back Movement’ proceeded with their demonstration on Monday, brandishing placards as they marched through the streets.

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In a related development, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has cautioned that protesters nationwide must not face harm or harassment during the planned protest scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its national president, Joe Ajaero, the NLC expressed concerns over potential state-sponsored tactics aimed at thwarting the protests.

The NLC warned that any aggression against protesters would be met with severe consequences, including a complete shutdown and withdrawal of services.

Despite government attempts to intimidate them, the NLC reiterated its commitment to the planned protest, citing the urgent need to address escalating economic challenges, including rising inflation, food prices, forex shortages, and the removal of petrol subsidies.

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Nigeria Police face backlash over viral cash gift video

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A viral video showing several Nigerian police officers allegedly receiving N5,000 each from a Chinese man and his family has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over corruption and ethics in the Nigeria Police Force.

The footage, which surfaced online, shows uniformed officers lining up as a Chinese man hands them cash gifts.

The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from the public and human rights advocates, who described it as disgraceful and damaging to the image of the police.

When contacted by Vanguard, Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said he was unaware of the viral video or the incident.

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Similarly, the Lagos State Police Command distanced itself from the footage. Its spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, clarified that the incident did not occur in Lagos, contrary to claims circulating online.

Public figures have also weighed in. Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), described the video as “shameful” and called for the removal of the IGP.

“This is why I keep saying illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun must leave the police force. It is the shame of the nation,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

Popular social commentator and human rights activist Martins Victor Otse, also known as VeryDarkBlackMan, called the act “disgraceful, disrespectful, and degrading,” urging the police leadership to address the matter transparently.

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The incident has intensified calls for accountability, with many Nigerians demanding disciplinary action and systemic reforms to restore public confidence in the police force.

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Easter celebration: FG declares Friday, Monday public holidays

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The Federal Government has declared Friday, April 18, and Monday, April 21, 2025, as public holidays to mark Good Friday and Easter Monday.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday.

He emphasised the importance of embodying the virtues of the sacrifice and love displayed by Jesus Christ, who had to die for the redemption of man, while greeting Christians on the joyous occasion.

In a statement by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, the minister called on Nigerians to use the holiday period to pray for the peace, unity, and stability of the nation.

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He reassured citizens of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to foster national growth and development.

“Furthermore, he encouraged Nigerians to extend love and goodwill to their neighbours through acts of kindness and generosity.

“The minister wished all Christians a blissful Easter celebration and extended warm holiday greetings to all Nigerians,” the statement added.

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CBEX Staff Arrested After Trading Platform Collapse

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Following the public outrage trailing the reported crash of the China Beijing Equity Exchange (CBEX) platform, fresh footage has emerged showing the moment a staff member of the embattled digital trading firm was apprehended by angry locals.

The video, which surfaced online on Tuesday and was tagged “CBEX wahala: Staff of CBEX office reportedly arrested in local area amid platform crash outrage”, captured the tense scene as a man believed to be a CBEX staff was whisked away.

Speculations had it that the staff was spotted in the Oke Ado axis of Ibadan, the same area where the CBEX office was earlier ransacked by enraged investors over the alleged collapse of the platform that led to the loss of millions in user funds.

While the identity of the staff remains unverified at press time, aggrieved traders who besieged the office earlier had vowed to hunt down the operators of the controversial platform, accusing them of running a Ponzi scheme disguised as a digital asset exchange.

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Security agencies have yet to comment officially on the arrest or confirm whether the individual was taken into custody by police.

Meanwhile, calls for the investigation and prosecution of those behind CBEX have continued to gather momentum as more victims take to social media to lament their losses.

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