A group, Victims of Police Brutality and Extra Judicial Killings, Abia State chapter has appealed to governor Alex Otti, to facilitate the payment of compensation to the tune of N51 million to its members.

The spokesperson for the group Dr. Ositadinma Nwabuko, made the appeal in Umuahia, the state capital, on Monday, reminding the governor that the money was approved for 46 members of the group whose properties were destroyed by the police.

He explained that the compensation was approved by a panel of inquiry set up by the state government to investigate police brutality and extra judicial killings in year, 2020 shortly after the end SARS protest.

Nwabuko revealed that all the victims suffered various levels of brutality in the hands of police that led to the loss of their relatives and properties.

He said, “In the year 2020 when Nigerians were brutalized by the police in various parts of the country, the Federal Government gave a directive to the states to set up a panel of inquiry to ascertain the magnitude of the cases towards compensation of the victims.

“The panel set up by the Abia State Government was under the chairmanship of the retired Justice Sunday Imo, Mrs Uzo Ikonne, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice who served as the secretary with other 17 members.

“The panel deliberated over 86 cases of which 46 cases were found to have merit. The report and its recommendations were submitted to the former governor Okezie Ikpeazu for implementation.

“The matter was still pending when the elections came on.

The victims worked assiduously and tirelessly praying for the success of Governor Alex Otti. We were confident that he would ensure our compensation.

“To the glory of God he came on board. But it has since been near impossible to reach your Excellency on our matter.

“We have done several correspondences through the Secretary to the State Government, the Attorney General, Chief of Staff to Governor, Secret Registry Government House Umuahia,

Protocol office Government House, Chief Security Officer Government House and through her Excellency Mrs Chidinma Otti when we were informed she was in town.

“All these efforts are for us to have an audience with the governor, hence this appeal.

“We appeal that the governor should direct the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice to make available to his Excellency copy of the panel report and its recommendations for your kind intervention. He has been our hope before he came on board and now that he is on board, he is still our hope.”

Nwabuko lamented that many of the victims are very sick, some have died, while some are still in the mortuary unable to be buried by their families for lack of funds.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

President Bola Tinubu will today (Wednesday) embark on a two-nation visit to Johannesburg, South Africa and Luanda, Angola.

“President Tinubu’s first stop is Johannesburg, where he will attend the 20th summit of the G20 Leaders. After the summit, he will proceed to Angola for the AU-EU summit,” the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed in a statement Tuesday evening.

The G20 meeting holds at the Johannesburg Expo Centre from Saturday, November 22, to Sunday, November 23, followed by the AU–EU summit in Luanda from November 24–25.

Invited by South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, Chairperson for this year’s G20, Tinubu will join leaders under the theme, “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” the first G20 hosted on African soil.

The summit will consider inclusive and sustainable growth, debt and development finance, disaster-risk reduction, climate action and just energy transitions, food systems, critical minerals, decent work and artificial intelligence.

The Presidency said the Nigerian leader will also hold bilateral meetings on the margins of the G20 “in furtherance of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” and to discuss regional peace, security and development.

The African Union, now a full member of the G20 alongside the EU, is expected to participate in Johannesburg.

After the G20 in Johannesburg, Tinubu will join other Heads of State and Government for the AU–EU summit in Luanda, which brings leaders, innovators and civil society together on climate, inclusive development, infrastructure, digital economy, the creative sector, manufacturing and agribusiness.

He will be accompanied by senior officials, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance and the Economy, Solid Minerals, and Trade and Investment, as well as the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency.

The President is due back in Nigeria at the end of both meetings, Onanuga stated.

While the G20 summit makes it Tinubu’s third trip to South Africa since assuming office, he is visiting Luanda, Angola for the first time as Head of State.

President Bola Tinubu has dispatched Vice President Kashim Shettima to Kebbi State to meet with grieving families of the schoolgirls abducted from a boarding school in Maga.

He also promised that the government is working to ensure their safe and swift return.

This is just as he said the abducation took despite intelligence warnings of a possible strike by the bandits.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President also extended condolences to the military over the deaths of several soldiers and Brigadier General Musa Uba, who were killed in action while battling insurgents in Borno State.

Tinubu said he had been fully briefed by military authorities on both incidents and expressed deep sorrow over the attack on the school.

He noted that the abduction occurred “despite intelligence warnings of a possible strike by the bandits,” while commending Kebbi State Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris “for the efforts made to avert the kidnapping.”

Describing the attack as a painful setback, the President urged communities—particularly those in security-vulnerable areas—to work more closely with security operatives.

While lamenting the dual tragedies, Tinubu declared, “As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am depressed with the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty. May God comfort the families of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other fallen heroes.”

He said he was equally troubled by the assault on schoolchildren, stating, “I am also depressed that heartless terrorists have disrupted the education of innocent schoolgirls. I have directed the security agencies to act swiftly and bring the girls back to Kebbi State.”

The President emphasized that citizen cooperation remains central to weakening criminal networks and preventing further attacks.

“Our security forces cannot succeed in protecting us if the people don’t cooperate and share information that will help them keep our communities safe.

“I urge community leaders and our compatriots across the country, especially those in the theatres of operations, to share useful information. Your cooperation is crucial in our fight against these security challenges,” he said.

Vice President Shettima is expected in Kebbi on Wednesday to meet with state officials, reassure affected parents, and convey the President’s message of solidarity and commitment, the statement noted.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM