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How Ajimobi, Oyo police violated victims’ rights to life in market clash – VOHRI

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A human rights group, Veteran Organization for Human Rights Initiative (VOHRI) has declared that the Oyo State Government and the state Police command violated rights to life of victims of Thursday’s clash which occurred between butchers and policemen.

The mayhem which occurred Thursday morning, DAILY POST recalls led to the killing of about six persons.

But, VOHRI lead activist, Comrade Sakirullahi Ayobami and General Secretary, Comrade Adekunle Abimbola, while addressing a press conference at the weekend in Ibadan, explained that the state government under the leadership of Governor Abiola Ajimobi has violated section 33 of the Nigerian constitution which guarantees the freedom to right to live of the people who died on Thursday.

They added that the police on the other hand, also acted contrary to its own act, Police Act section 1, which states that the primary role of the police is to protect lives and property of the people.

The duo while condemning the mayhem added that the state government has tampered with the fundamental human right of those who lost their lives, noting that the police instead of protecting the people went ahead to harass, intimidate and in the process about six people lost their lives, an offence VOHRI said was against the Police Act.

The group further alleged that the state government and the police have also committed contempt of court by going to the market on Thursday, because three court cases are still pending on the relocation of butchers in Ibadan.

The duo while issuing a 3-day ultimatum which starts from today (Monday) to the state government to reopen the Bodija abattoir and allow the courts to decide, however, declared that failure to heed to the advice of the organisation will lead to a 1 million man mass protest in Ibadan, the state capital.

While commensurating with those who have been affected by the crisis, VOHRI said it will compel the state government and the police to pay due compensations to those who were affected by the crisis through the courts.

They said, “Are we still in military regime? We want the government to explain to us who owns the Amosun abattoir. We condemn the action of the government and the police totally. And we have began the processes, we are going to file fundamental actions against the government and the police for the killing of the innocent people.

“Killing of innocent people is unconstitutional, demolition of the abattoir is unconstitutional. Is Ajimobi saying he is above the law? There are three cases, one at the magistrate court and two at the High Court. The case at the magistrate court has been adjourned till July 16, the two cases at the High Court are adjourned till October 24 and 25, so why did they go to the market to kill people? Are they saying they are above the law?

“The state government by sending the police and in the process some people were killed has committed offence against section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution. Right to life of the people has been violated. Are they now saying that those people don’t have right to life as stated in section 33? Did they see them with arms?

“The police whose salaries are being paid with our taxes, they are now using guns to kill people. We are going to sue the State government and the police. We are going to file fundamental actions against the state government and the police. The people have lost over N500m and they are going to pay for it. The police act, Section 1 states that, the primary function of the police is protection of lives and property of the people. We are filling fundamental actions against Oyo state government and the police over the Bodija killings.

“We are now issuing a 3-day ultimatum to Oyo state government to reopen the closed abattoir at Bodija market and let the courts decide. The ultimatum starts from Monday. Failure to do that, we are mobilising 1 million people in a mass protest in Ibadan. ”

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Red Sea Tragedy: US Pilots Shot Down in ‘Friendly Fire’ Mishap

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A handout picture released by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on February 15, 2024, shows a shipment the US military said is of Iranian weapons destined for Yemen’s Huthi rebels which its navy seized from a vessel in the Arabian Sea on January 28. (Photo by US Central Command (CENTCOM) / AFP)

Two US Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea early Sunday in “an apparent case of friendly fire,” the US military said.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels said later on Sunday they had “targeted” the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman a day earlier in an operation that led to “shooting down an F-18 aircraft” and thwarting “American-British aggression” against Yemen.

United States Central Command said late on Saturday that both US pilots were recovered alive but “initial assessments indicate that one of the crew members sustained minor injuries”.

This incident, “was not the result of hostile fire, and a full investigation is underway,” CENTCOM said.

The potentially disastrous mistake underscores the dangers of a mission the United States has been involved in for more than a year to counter Yemen’s Huthi rebels.

The Huthis have repeatedly targeted merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, waterways vital to global trade.

CENTCOM said the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg “mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18” fighter aircraft, which Navy pilots had flown off the USS Harry S Truman.

On Saturday the United States said it struck targets including a missile storage facility in Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa, hours after a Huthi rebel missile wounded people in Israel’s commercial hub Tel Aviv.

US forces also shot down multiple Huthi attack drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea, CENTCOM said.

“The operation involved US Air Force and US Navy assets, including F/A-18s,” CENTCOM said.

The Huthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel and Hamas have been at war since October 7, 2023.

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Death Toll Rises to 22 in Anambra Stampede, As Police Begin Investigation

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The death toll from a tragic stampede in Anambra State has risen to 22, local authorities confirmed on Sunday.

The Anambra State Police Command, through its spokesman Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that the police have commenced an investigation into the incident. Ikenga also stated that several injured victims are receiving medical treatment.

“The Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, visited the hospital where the victims of the tragic stampede that occurred on December 21, 2024, in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, are receiving treatment,” Ikenga said. “Regrettably, 22 people lost their lives. The CP commiserates with the families and friends of the deceased and wishes the injured a quick recovery.”

The stampede occurred on Saturday during a rice distribution event at Amaranta Stadium in Okija. The event, organized by the Obijackson Foundation, was intended to provide relief to residents.

A Pattern of Tragedy

The Anambra incident follows a series of similar tragedies across the country. Earlier in December, a stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, claimed 10 lives. A few days prior, a children’s funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, ended in disaster, with 35 children losing their lives and six others critically injured.

The string of incidents has raised serious concerns about crowd management during large-scale events in Nigeria. Prominent figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, have called for urgent reforms.

“It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that I receive yet again the heartbreaking news of lives lost in tragic stampedes, this time in Okija, Anambra, and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory,” Atiku wrote on his X handle late Saturday. “It is imperative that those entrusted with the organization of such large-scale events take the utmost care in crowd management, prioritizing the safety and well-being of all participants.”

Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, lamented the incidents as a reflection of the rising desperation caused by hunger in Nigeria.

“I am deeply saddened and distressed by the tragic loss of lives in desperate searches for food,” Obi wrote on X. “While I will not cast blame, I appreciate the organizers of these events for their kind gestures. However, these tragedies reflect the systemic failures that plague our society.”

A Call for Reform

The recent stampedes underscore the urgent need for better planning and safety protocols at public events. Experts and stakeholders are calling on authorities and event organizers to adopt stringent crowd management strategies to prevent future tragedies.

Meanwhile, families of the victims continue to mourn their loss, as the nation grapples with the deepening economic challenges that have driven many to desperation.

 

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Grim Friday: Man, Wife, Grandson Perish in Ibadan Fire

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A devastating house fire in the Ori-Eru area of Idikan, Ibadan, Oyo State, has claimed the lives of a man, his wife, and their grandson. The incident occurred on Friday at approximately 3:46 PM, leaving the community in mourning.

According to a statement by CSP Olaniyan Jibola of the Mapo Police Division, the fire engulfed the upper floor of a six-room residential storey building.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims had used a naked flame to keep their room warm during the cold weather, which tragically led to the fire.

“On arrival, we met the upper floor of a residential building of six rooms on fire. We swiftly swung into action, and the fire was completely extinguished. Unfortunately, the three victims had slept off after putting on the fire and could not escape,” the statement read.

Despite the tragedy, the prompt intervention of the police and a team of Amotekun officials led by Gbenga Akinyemi from the North West Division helped rescue five individuals from the burning building. Fortunately, the fire did not spread to the ground floor or adjacent properties.

The remains of the victims have been recovered, while the rescued individuals are receiving medical attention.

 

 

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