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2019 Elections: PDP, CUPP Hail UK, US Plan To Place Visa

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Eniola Olayemi

 

United States and the United Kingdom have warned that politicians, who instigate violence or are involved in electoral fraud, will be refused visas to enter their countries.

In statements issued by the US Embassy and British High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Thursday, both governments called for free and fair elections, announcing that politicians working towards scuttling the exercise would not only face a number of sanctions but would also have their family members face visa bans to the US and the UK.

The US Embassy in its statement, said, “The conduct of the upcoming elections in Nigeria is important not only for Nigeria, but for the African continent.

“The United States Government does not support any specific candidate or party in Nigeria’s upcoming elections but supports the Nigerian democratic process itself. We support a genuinely free, fair, transparent and peaceful electoral process.

“We and other democratic nations will be paying close attention to actions of individuals, who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence against the civilian population before, during or after the elections.

“We will not hesitate to consider consequences – including visa restrictions – for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process.

“Under US immigration law, certain violations may also lead to restrictions on family members.”

While making its own call and pledging support for the Independent National Electoral Commission, the British High Commission said, “We and our international partners remain committed supporters of Nigeria’s democracy.

“We do not support any party or individual and believe that the Nigerian people should be able to choose their leaders in an environment free from hate speech and insecurity.

“We continue to provide significant support for the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Nigerian civil society to help them deliver credible elections.

“Our monitors will in particular be looking out for any attempts to encourage or use violence to influence the elections, including on social media.

“We would like to remind all Nigerians that where the UK is aware of such attempts, this may have consequences for individuals.

“These could include their eligibility to travel to the UK, their ability to access UK based funds or lead to prosecution under international law.”

PDP, CUPP back UK, US

Meanwhile, opposition political parties on the platform of the Coalition of Political Parties welcomed the decision of the UK and the US.

The coalition’s first national spokesperson, Imo Ugochinyere, stated this in a statement in Abuja.

While lauding the foreign governments for their decision, Ugochinyere described them as the true gatekeepers of democracy.

He said, “We, the opposition parties, are in full support of this decision by the UK and the USA, the true gatekeepers of democracy.

“On Monday, we will be releasing a list of 15 Buhari/APC associates involved in pre-election crisis.

“This statement from the UK and the US couldn’t have come at a better time. We have on many occasions reiterated the need for this visa ban on perpetrators of election violence and we are glad that finally, it is going to happen.

“For the past few months, Buhari and his APC-led administration have tried to create many pre-election crises by spreading fake news about the opposition in other to instil hate and unbelief in the minds of innocent citizens.

“There are many cases, from their rally of blood in Lagos where they sent goons to attack citizens, to the arrest of innocent activists, opposition politicians, journalists, and the recent baseless lie by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, that the opposition is plotting to commission bandits and Boko Haram to disrupt the 2019 elections.

“All these are few of the many election triggers done intentionally by the APC to create pre-election crisis, and we will unveil the culprits on Monday.”

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have thrown their weight behind the UK and the US decision to sanction anyone caught interfering with the elections.

However, the Social Democratic Party, which also supported the plan, said apart from violence and rigging, the foreign governments should add vote-buying to the list of electoral irregularities they would be on the lookout for.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, told one of our correspondents that the move was in the right direction.

He said, “While we want to commend the two countries for their interest in democratic process in our country, we also want to appeal to them to pay serious attention to happenings at INEC and the activities of its officials from the chairman to the last person in the hierarchy of the commission.”

He equally called on other foreign nations to beam their searchlights on the activities of security agencies and officials of the Federal Government.

Atiku, who reacted through his aide, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, said he was happy about the action of the two countries.

He said, “The threat of the visa ban is a welcome development.  We have been advocating a free and fair contest where the people’s votes will count. It is the government of the day that has been jittery and their subterranean moves are in the public space.

“This election is a referendum on the performance of the incumbent and  you do need the services of a clairvoyant to hazard a guess as to what the outcome will be.”

In his contribution, the National Publicity Secretary of the SDP, Alfa Mohammed, said the foreign governments should also beam their searchlight on the electoral process as released by the INEC.

Mohammed, however, said they should also “focus attention on vote-buying which the party in power is relying on as manifested in previous elections.”

Elections: Oyo Police say erring political party to pay N100m fine

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force on Thursday signed a peace pact with political parties in Oyo State ahead of the elections.

The state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, who facilitated the peace accord involving the command, the INEC, the political parties and other stakeholders, said any erring party whose members foment trouble would pay a fine of N100m.

Odude said the peace pact was to ensure the safety of lives and property before, during and after the elections, stressing that anyone found in possession of illegal weapons would face the full wrath of the law.

He urged leaders of political parties, their candidates and supporters to maintain decorum during campaigns and refrain from making hate speech or statements capable of heating up the polity or threatening the peace of the state.

“We are determined to deal decisively with individuals or politicians no matter how highly placed who engage in any form of violence before, during and after the elections,” Odude added.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Mr. Mutiu Agboke, said the commission would not collaborate with anybody to rig the elections, stressing that, “You either win an election or lose.”

 

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FIVE KIDNAPPERS FATALLY INJURED IN POLICE OPERATION ON LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY

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…As Commissioner of Police reiterates commitment to ensure safety of lives and property

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED: H&H

On January 25, 2025, at about 1900hrs, the Area Commander, Sagamu received a distress call from commuters travelling along Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway of an ongoing armed robbery near Ilishan, Ogun State. Acting swiftly, the Area Commander mobilized a crack team of officers to the scene.

Upon arrival, officers discovered that a group of unidentified gunmen had set up a roadblock using an articulated truck, indiscriminately opening fire on unarmed passengers, causing widespread panic. In the ensuing chaos, three commuters – Bolaji Bilesanmi ‘m’, 65yrs Olasunkanmi Idowu ‘m’ 50yrs, and Mohammed Salisu ‘m’ (age unknown) were abducted into the forest from two vehicles (1) Honda Pilot (Registration No. Lagos EKY113GZ) and (2) Honda Accord Car (Registration No. Lagos KJA13QFA).

SWIFT POLICE INTERVENTION

The Commissioner of Police, CP. Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD. directed a covert operation led by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit. On January 29, 2025, at about 0400hrs, operatives located the kidnappers’ hideout, and upon sighting the police squad, the gang engaged the officers in a fierce gun battle. In the exchange, five (5) kidnappers were fatally injured while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

RECOVERED ITEMS

The following items were recovered from the scene:
• One AK-47 rifle
• Ten rounds of 5.6mm calibre ammunition
• ₦5.2 million (suspected to be proceeds of crime)
• Three mobile phones

The three (3) kidnapped victims regained their freedom unhurt. Efforts are ongoing to arrest injured members of the syndicate. The Commissioner of Police strongly warns against criminal activities, particularly among young individuals seeking financial gain through high-profile crimes.

He reiterates the Command’s unwavering commitment to an aggressive crackdown on criminals preying on innocent citizens in Ogun state.

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So-Safe Corps Apprehends Ex-Convict with Human Skull in Ogun

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So-Safe Corps Apprehends Ex-Convict with Human Skull in Ogun

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Ogun State Community, Social Orientation, and Safety Corps (So-Safe Corps) has apprehended a middle-aged man at a tomb in Kere, Obada-Oko, Abeokuta, Ogun State, while he was allegedly attempting to exhume a human skull.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued by the Commander of So-Safe Corps, Commander (Dr.) Soji Ganzallo, through the office of the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Corps, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf.

According to the statement, at about 2:35 a.m. on January 21, 2025, officers of the So-Safe Corps on routine patrol observed suspicious activity on a parcel of land behind a church. The suspect, identified as 54-year-old Adelani Oriyomi, was spotted trying to hide. Once the coast seemed clear, he resumed digging the tomb to allegedly retrieve a human skull. However, the officers returned to the scene, apprehending him before he could escape.

Ganzallo revealed that the suspect, a resident of Kere, Obada-Oko in Ewekoro Local Government Area, confessed to the crime during interrogation. Oriyomi admitted that on January 18, 2025, he had exhumed a skull from a tomb on a plot of land behind his residence. He confessed that he was now attempting to retrieve another skull to complete the number required for a money ritual preparation known as Osole. Oriyomi further disclosed that he had hidden the first skull in his room.

The suspect also confessed to being a seasoned offender, having sold nearly ten skulls in the past. He revealed that previous arrests for similar offenses committed at Ado-Odo led to two years of imprisonment and a further six years and nine months at the Oba Correctional Center following another conviction in Obada-Oko.

Commander Ganzallo confirmed that the suspect and the recovered exhibit—a fully dried human skull—have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Obada Divisional Headquarters, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

In his remarks, Ganzallo urged community leaders to thoroughly screen tenants and visitors to prevent harboring undesirable individuals. He emphasized that such vigilance could ensure 70% of home security, with the remaining 30% relying on alertness to external threats.

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SANWO-OLU COMMISERATES WITH JIGAWA GOVERNOR, VICTIMS FAMILIES OVER FUEL EXPLOSION TRAGEDY 

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SANWO-OLU COMMISERATES WITH JIGAWA GOVERNOR, VICTIMS FAMILIES OVER FUEL EXPLOSION TRAGEDY 

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in the unfortunate fire incident in Majiya town, in the Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, following the explosion of a petrol-laden tanker.

The Governor also sent a note of sympathy to his colleague, Governor Umar Namadi, friends and associates of the victims, as well as the people and Government of Jigawa State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the unfortunate incident has left yet another scar in the minds of millions of Nigerians, adding that no nation or people could afford to experience this kind of tragedy without its effect on the social and psychological wellbeing of the people.

Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, offered prayers for the victims and their families, Governor Umar Namadi, and the citizens of Jigawa over the tragic loss of their fellow residents.

He said, “It is with heavy heart that I have read and followed the development of the disaster that happened yesterday in Majiya town, in the Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, following the explosion of a petrol-laden tanker that claimed over 153 persons.

“Certainly, this unfortunate incident is beyond what we can reasonably imagine, going by what I have seen in the media. The devastating effects can only be imagined.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with my brother, Governor Umar Namadi, the Government and the people of Jigawa State over this very sad incident.

“I pray for the repose of the deceased and ask that the Almighty Allah grant the families of the victims the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

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