News

Demonstrators take to streets across UK to protest against ‘spiking epidemic’

Huge crowds of people across the UK took to the streets on Wednesday night, boycotting nightclubs in protests against a sharp rise in spiking cases.

There were demonstrations in more than 40 university towns and cities, from St Andrews in Scotland to Brighton on the south coast of England, united by a common fury.

Opening the Manchester demonstration in front of at least 1,000 young people, Lucy Nichols, 21, declared “an emergency response to an emergency situation”. There is a “spiking epidemic” sweeping the UK, she said: “Every single women here will have a story about them or one of their friends being spiked. Now we can’t even do the age-old trick of covering up our drinks, because they are spiking us with needles now too.”

Everyone in the crowd outside the central library seemed to have their own story. Maisie Porter, 21, a geography student, said several members of her university netball team had been targeted. She said she had stopped buying drinks in clubs to stay safe.

Her friend, Megan Meager, 20, always makes sure she watches bartenders make her drinks. More people are buying shots now, she said: “You can neck them at the bar before anyone has chance to tamper with them.”

“The only injection I want is Pfizer!” said one of the many banners on show. “Pankhurst would be PISSED” read another, held up high after the march left St Peter’s Square, watched over by a statue of the Mancunian suffragette.

But it was the woman holding up the sign saying “I have never felt safe” who summed up why thousands of young people around the UK are demonstrating this week.

What began less than a fortnight ago as a nightclub boycott prompted by a spate of spiking cases, some allegedly involving needles, is becoming something bigger: a call to arms from a generation of young women fed up with being afraid.

The nationwide protests were originally billed as Girls’ Night In but organisers changed the name to become more inclusive. One of the Manchester organisers, George Virgo, is a trans man, who said he had experienced gender-based violence when perceived as a woman.

Figures released on Wednesday reveal 56 incidents of spiking by injection were recorded by police in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in September and October, in addition to 198 confirmed reports of drink spiking.

The revised data from the National Police Chiefs Council was issued amid anger about the prevalence of drink spiking, and widely shared social media testimony from individuals who believe they have been deliberately injected with spiking drugs.

Not included in those figures was the man from Tameside in Greater Manchester who appeared in court on Wednesday charged with rape, after a complaint by a woman who said her drink had been spiked.

Greater Manchester police said the force had received a report on 27 September from a woman who said that during a night out in Stalybridge days earlier her drink had been spiked and she had been raped. Dale Garlick, 29, has been remanded in custody and will appear at Minshull crown court on 1 December.

Meanwhile, detectives are investigating six reports of women being injected while on nights out in Brighton during the past week.

Ch Supt Justin Burtenshaw of Brighton police said the reports were being taken “incredibly seriously” and called for victims of spiking to let police or bar staff know.

Several nightclubs in Manchester and across the UK closed on Wednesday night in solidarity with the protesters. Some have already implemented anti-spiking measures demanded by the protesters, such as cup covers and straws, and trained members of staff in safeguarding.

The organisers wrote an open letter to Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, demanding funding for “anti-spiking devices” and for the implementation of a women’s safety toolkit for venues, which would include measures such as easily accessible reporting mechanisms and working CCTV.

Burnham attended the Manchester protest, along with one of his teenage daughters and Sacha Lord, owner of the Warehouse Project nightclub and the Greater Manchester night-time economy adviser.

“I’m here to listen,” he said, saying his views on safety had changed as his girls, now 16 and 19, had started going out. It is not for women and girls to moderate their behaviour, he said: “This one is on us – on boys, on lads, on men.”

Further protests and boycotts are planned in the next 10 days, including in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff and London.

News

Osun Commissioner denies sending fake soldiers to Ilobu over ongoing crises

Osun commissioner, Kolapo Alimi, has denied claim that he sent fake soldiers to Ilobu over the the ongoing communal clash between the community and neighbouring Ifon and Erin Osun towns.

The Commissioner said this while responding claim by one Tairu Babatunde, the Public Relations Officer of Ilobu Descendant Union (IDU) that he sent out fake soldiers to Ilobu to carry out killings.

“This is a lie taken to the extreme of great mischief,” Alimi said.

The Commissioner who decried the communal clashes said rather than politicise it, every right thinking person in the affected communities ought to strive for the avoidance of the carnage.

“The killings and destructions in the concerned communities are uncalled for because we are brothers and sisters.

“We have an age long relationship of inter marriages. This brotherhood and sisterhood is what we should promote as opposed to killing and maiming of ourselves. It is despicable and uncalled for.

“More unfortunate is the politicization of the conflicts, by using the conflicts to blackmail my humble self by some political jobbers hiding under the name of the conflicts.

“It started about a year ago when the conflicts between Ifon and Ilobu escalated. Quickly, some politicians from the opposition in Ilobu, hiding under the name of fighting for Ilobu interest started blackmailing Oluomo Kolapo Alimi as the one supporting Ifon against Ilobu.

“These baseless allegations reverberate throughout the length and breadth of Ilobu.

“It took Kolapo Alimi several efforts to disabuse the mind of right thinking people of Ilobu about these allegations.

The situation became worse now that Erin is involved, they reinvented their false claims that Alimi brought fake Soldiers to Ilobu.

“Before I delve into the issues, let’s inform those that might not know or remind those that have forgotten the contributions of Kolapo Alimi to the Development of Ilobu.

“My humble self, Kolapo Alimi , as a young boy, had a spell of almost ten years as a teacher in Ilobu Grammar School,Ilobu. I had a record of hard work which impacted positively on many Ilobu indigenes who are today doing well in their different areas of specialisation.

“Thereafter, when I ventured into public service as a politician and eventually, a Commissioner, I, Kolapo Alimi appointed an Ilobu indigene as my Personal Assistant, (an unprecedented step in our political development in our areas).

“In addition, I have records of facilitating the employment of many Ilobu indigenes into Local Govts, Lautech (now Uniosun teaching hospital) and Civil Defence among other key offices in various establishments in Osun and beyond.

“With all humility and modesty , I make bold to say that, I have assisted many Ilobu indigenes despite the fact that I am not an indigene of the town.
On politics, I stood firmly with Honourable Nasiru Olateju, an Ilobu indigene to become the member representing Irepodun/Orolu state constituency, in 2019. Let me stop at that for now.

“It is then quite surprising and astonishing that some people will deliberately be out as a result of mischief and other reasons, particularly politics, to malign my person and integrity.

“An example of such was a blackmail and malicious press release authored by one Tairu Babatunde, the Public Relations Officer of Ilobu Descendant Union (IDU) in which he alleged that I sent fake soldiers to Ilobu to carry out killings. This is a lie taken to the extreme of great mischief.

“Ordinarily,I wouldn’t have responded the way I am currently doing because, anybody holding a public position, more so, who is into politics, should from time to time expect such backlashes from the political opponents,” the Commissioner concluded.

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“I’m in charge” – Gov Alia dismisses calls for state of emergency in Benue

Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has dismissed calls for a state of emergency in the state, describing them as politically motivated and a desperate attempt to undermine his administration’s progress.

The Governor was reacting to allegations made by the Centre for Judicial Integrity, CJI, which accused his government of attempting to buy off members of the judiciary.

Governor Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, refuted the claims as baseless and unfounded.

He stated that those behind the calls for a state of emergency are disgruntled political elements seeking to destabilize Benue for their selfish interests.

“There is no crisis in Benue State. Governor Hyacinth Alia is fully in charge and committed to good governance,” the statement read.

He urged the people of Benue to disregard the falsehoods being spread by “crisis vendors” and focus on the transformational governance his administration is delivering.

“The call for a “state of emergency” in Benue State is not purely vexatious but also a flagrant display of political opportunism. It is evident that these irritated political operatives are sponsored by unscrupulous factions desperate and eager to capitalize on any situation for their advantage.

“Their motives are clear: to undermine a state that is presently going through effective governance and progress under Governor Alia’s leadership.

“There is no unrest in Benue State. Gov. Hyacinth Alia is fully in charge and control of the state,” he added.

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Tinubu inaugurates academy to nurture future leaders

President Bola Tinubu on Monday inaugurated the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA) to empower young Nigerians and nurture the next generation of leaders.

Tinubu, represented by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, said the academy would focus on skills development, employment, leadership and civil engagement.

This, according to him will be achieved through world-class training in digital literacy, technical skills, entrepreneurship and the creative industries.

Tinubu said his administration would ensure that the youth were equipped to compete on the global stage

He said initiatives like the Youth Investment Fund and the Presidential Initiative for Youth Enterprise Clusters would provide financial support, mentorship and resources for young entrepreneurs.

“The establishment of the National Youth Development Bank will ensure access to the capital needed to turn ideas into thriving businesses,” said the President.

According to Tinubu, Nigeria is a peculiar nation with a median age of 17 years, one of the youngest in the world.

“This demographic reality presents both extraordinary opportunity and a pressing challenge. The Nigerian Youth Academy is, therefore, our bold response to this reality.

“Over the next two years, this academy will train and empower millions of young Nigerians. It will equip them with the skills, knowledge and opportunities needed to compete with the rest of the world.

“This is not just an investment in their future, it is an investment in the future of our nation,” Tinubu said.

Earlier, Mr Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, said the academy would complement other transformative government initiatives that empahaised Tinubu’s commitment to young people.

Edun said the ministry of finance was fully committed to supporting programmes like NIYA that created real values, promoted service export and reduced youth unemployment.

“We will continue to work with the ministry of youth development and other partners to ensure that this platform succeeds and be integrated into the national economic strategy,” Edun said.

Also, Mr Ayodele Olawande, the Minister of Youth Development, said the academy would train, connect and empower the youth with skills needed for entrepreneurship.

“This initiative is for every Nigerian youth and is free. NIYA represents the determination of Mr President to help the youth to build their future, create opportunity for themselves and their family,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highpoint of the event was the presentation of N1 million start-up packs for six youths selected from each geopolitical zones. (PM/NAN)