News

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

Professor Wole Soyinka, a distinguished Nobel laureate, has vehemently condemned the brutal attacks on #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters and journalists by security forces.

In a scathing statement, Soyinka denounced the use of live bullets and tear gas as a reprehensible response to peaceful protests, warning that such actions would only escalate violence. 

Soyinka expressed deep concern over the government’s mishandling of protests, noting that the deployment of lethal force would only perpetuate a cycle of resentment and reprisals.

He urged security agencies to adopt alternative methods of managing protests, citing the example of the French police during the YELLOW VEST movement, who refrained from using firearms against demonstrators. 

The Nobel laureate called on the government to break away from the colonial legacy of suppressing civic dissent and instead embrace a more enlightened approach to protest management.

He revealed that the continued reliance on lethal force would only lead to further unrest and potentially catastrophic consequences.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Six indigenes of Gombe State made the list in the 200 Scholarship Award of the African Union Development Agency in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), in partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), of the First Lady, Senator Remi Tunibu.

The commissioner of education, Prof Aishatu Umar Maigari, stated this on Thursday in Abuja while leading the successfully selected students from Gombe State to the award presentation.

The program according to the commissioner was designed to support secondary school graduates particularly from the less privileged families to further their education at the tertiary level.

Speaking at the unveiling, held at the Banquet Hall of the State House Abuja, the First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration will continue to prioritize education as evident in the various policies and programmes been implemented in the sector since inception.

Senator Tinubu also emphasised that education and empowerment of the Nigerian girl-child will consistently be given priority attention to fill the gap with their male counterparts in receiving comprehensive formal education, which she said has brought about the need for the establishment of Alternative High Schools For Girls across the country.

In a remark, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, described the First Lady as an Education champion who is always concerned about the education of the younger generation and commended her initiatives under the Renewed Hope Initiatives, which are geared toward complementing the educational policies of the Tinibu-led administration.

The successful students to benefit from the initiative from Gombe State as approved by the office of the First Lady, Senator Tinubu, include Abdullahi Abubakar, Kamal Abdulsalam, Elisha Eglah, Muhammad Abdul-Azeez, Hajibukar Mohammed and Yunusa Umar Farouq.

They have since been inaugurated with others across the country and presented with their Award letters in a colorful event.

By Uzair Adam

President Bola Tinubu is set to address the nation on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at 7:00 am, amidst ongoing nationwide protests. The presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, announced this in a statement on Saturday.

He stated that the address will be broadcast on television, radio, and other electronic media outlets through the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

The Daily Reality gathered that the broadcast will be repeated at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm on the same day.

This announcement comes as protests continue to sweep across the country, with various groups calling for attention to their demands.

The president’s address is expected to address the current situation and provide guidance to the nation.

By Uzair Adam

The Katsina State Police Command has debunked claims circulating in a viral video that a police officer shot and killed a colleague during recent protests against bad governance in the state.

The video, shared widely on X, shows a security agent allegedly shot by a police officer while dispersing protesters in Katsina. The agent is seen lying motionless on the ground, sparking outrage and concern.

In a statement to the press, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Katsina State clarified that the video was “manipulated and taken out of context.”

The PPRO identified the individual in the video as an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who sustained injuries from an accident during the protest, not from a gunshot.

“The fact is that the security agent shown in the video is an officer of the NSCDC who fell from a patrol vehicle due to an accident involving the vehicle at the scene of the protest.

He was immediately rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital (formerly Federal Medical Centre), Katsina, where he was treated and discharged,” the PPRO explained.

Katsina State Police Commissioner, CP Aliyu Musa, reiterated that no fatalities were recorded during the protest.

He urged the public to prioritize accuracy and verify information through official channels.

“We call on members of the public to disregard this misinformation and always verify information through official channels,” CP Musa stated.

He reassured the public of the command’s commitment to maintaining peace and order in the state, in collaboration with other security agencies.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigerian military has asked both international and local media to stop covering nationwide protests over heightened economic hardships under President Bola Tinubu’s government.

Christopher Musa made the call for a media blackout on the protests during a press briefing on Friday.

“For the media, I want to appeal—I noticed yesterday all the stations are hooked up to the occasion. This is not an election. Don’t give them that coverage,” Mr Musa said.

He added that many of the protesters are attention seekers who want moments in the media.

“Some of them (protesters) are looking for moments to be on the screen. Together, I can assure you we are going to win,” Mr Musa stated.

The Nigerian military’s appeal for a media blackout on the protests comes on the second day of the nationwide demonstrations that have disrupted commercial activities across the country.

Both local and international media have reported developments on the protests, which have seen thousands of Nigerians take to the streets over the worsening cost of living crisis.

On Thursday, Peoples Gazette reported how poor telecom network coverage hampered the dissemination of information as protesters marched on the streets.

Citing sources in telecom companies, The Gazette reported that the NCC and NSA are slowing down internet speed across the country to suppress the flow of information from the protesters to other Nigerians and the outside world.

Not fewer than 11 people were killed on the first day of the nationwide protests over severe economic hardships.

Mr Musa’s call for a media blackout on the protests mirrors the actions taken during the EndSARS protests on October 20, 2020, when electricity was disconnected, and telecom networks were down at the Lekki Toll Gate before soldiers opened live rounds on protesters.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has on Friday, toured some damaged facilities to assess the level of destruction caused by the violent protest in Gombe metropolis.

During the visit, Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed concern over the extensive damage inflicted on both public and private properties while assuring the people of the government’s commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the state.

“I have gone round to personally assess the extensive damage caused by the violent protest. From what I have seen, the destruction is enormous. Not just public facilities, businesses were also affected”, the Governor lamented.

He said it’s of utmost importance to preserve peace in Gombe, a state known for its stability.

“Gombe is known for its peace, and we must preserve it. We cannot allow actions that threaten our stability. We have no state other than Gombe. We understand that there are challenges and hardships in the land, but we must not resort to violence and destruction of our state to express our feelings or concerns”, the Governor said.

“Let me make it clear: we are not against peaceful protest. We know that democracy and our laws grant the right to express oneself, but yesterday’s event contradicted democratic principles and violated the law.

“We are ready to support any peaceful demonstration, and the police are ready to give protesters the maximum protection to exercise their constitutional rights once they follow the laid down rules. What we cannot allow, let me re-emphasize, is the breakdown of law and order”, the Governor added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

In a move to accommodate Muslim worshipers, the Borno State Government and security agencies have announced a temporary relaxation of the curfew imposed in the state.

The curfew will be lifted from 12 pm to 3 pm on Friday to allow Muslims to attend Jumaat prayers at their local mosques.

According to Assistant Superintendent of Police Daso Nahun, the Police Public Relations Officer, the curfew will be reinstated from 3 pm on Friday to 6 am on Saturday.

Nahun urged residents to use the window of relaxation to attend prayers and go about their lawful activities, while avoiding any form of violence.

This temporary easing of restrictions is aimed at balancing security concerns with religious freedom, allowing Muslims in Borno State to observe their Friday prayers without hindrance.

By Uzair Adam

Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has urged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government to immediately review its policies, which they claim are “asphyxiating life in the country.”

The Daily Reality reports that the PDP made this call in response to a nationwide protest against the government’s handling of the economy.

The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated that the government’s policies have led to a severe economic downturn, characterized by high inflation, unemployment, and poverty rates.

He criticized the government’s decision to increase fuel prices and float the currency without implementing measures to cushion the effects on citizens.

Ologunagba alleged that the APC government has been arrogant and insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, who are struggling to afford basic necessities like food and cooking oil.

He claimed that over 120 million Nigerians have become destitute and can no longer afford their daily meals and other basic necessities of life, with poverty rates soaring to over 40%.

The PDP accused the APC government of being responsible for the crippling of the productive sector, with the crashing of the Naira to over N1,500 to a Dollar, fuel soaring to over N1,000 per liter, and a high cost of goods and services with over 34% inflation rate and over 40% unemployment rate.

Ologunagba also alleged that APC officials are looting the national treasury to fund their luxurious lifestyles, including acquiring luxury jets, expensive holidays abroad, renovating official residential mansions, and other profligacies, without regard to the feelings and pains of the majority of Nigerians.

Furthermore, the PDP claimed that the APC administration is secretly paying a whopping N5.4 trillion as fuel subsidy for 2024, even after President Tinubu announced an end to fuel subsidy.

The PDP called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to personally address the nation, announce major policy reviews, and order an investigation into the alleged looting of subsidy and palliative funds.

They also urged the President to review all luxury items and purchases in the APC government and channel the resources for immediate intervention in the provision of food and other essential commodities to Nigerians.

The PDP called on Nigerians to remain peaceful and law-abiding in their pursuit of good governance in the country.

By Uzair Adam

On Thursday afternoon, a young man died after a group of looters broke into a store in Kano.

The store, located in the Sarari Quarters area, was filled with food items like rice, sugar, and flour.

The Daily Reality reliably gathered that the looters overpowered the security guard and started taking things from the store.

When the police arrived, they used teargas and guns to try to stop the looters.

Even so, some looters tried to keep stealing from behind the store. One of them was shot and died.

This happened during a time of unrest in Kano, where there have been reports of looting and damage to property at several places.

 By Sabiu Abdullahi 

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has declared a 24-hour curfew throughout the state, effective immediately, in response to the escalating violence and disruptions that have emerged amid civil demonstrations. 

According to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the decision was made unanimously during an Emergency State Security Council meeting. 

The governor stated that the curfew is necessary to restore order and ensure the safety of communities, following the hijacking of peaceful protests by thugs and hoodlums who engaged in looting, destruction of property, and violence against innocent citizens. 

“The imposition of this curfew is a necessary measure to restore order and ensure the safety of our communities,” said Governor Yusuf.

“It is paramount that we protect our citizens from further harm and preserve the sanctity of our state’s institutions and businesses.” 

The governor called on citizens to remain vigilant and united, saying, “Let us not allow the actions of a few selfish individuals to divide us. Together, we can navigate these challenges and fortify our resolve to build a stronger, more resilient Kano State.” 

All security agencies in the state have been directed to ensure full compliance with the curfew, and citizens are urged to heed this directive for their safety and well-being.