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#FreeNnamdiKanu: Police defend use of teargas, say it’s to protect critical infrastructure

Police authorities have defended the use of teargas on people who gathered for the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest around a major route in Abuja on Monday, arguing that the action was to prevent damage to critical infrastructure in the heart of the nation’s capital.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today, on Monday, said the move was in line with a court order which restricted the protesters from converging around Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and Shehu Shagari Way.

‘You see, FCT is very big. You can protest anywhere and your voices will still be heard, it will still be reported by the press’, he said.

‘These are critical infrastructure that needs to be protected and don’t forget that these are places that protests have happened in the past and things were destroyed. We have records of that. So, it is our duty as an agency to protect lives and properties; to ensure law and order.

‘So, whatever step – all lawful steps – we need to take to achieve that mandate is what we’ll take and that was what we did’.

Protesters had on Monday converged near Transcorp Hilton and other areas in the Federal Capital Territory for the demonstrations.

But police operatives and other security personnel had arrived early and fire tear gas to disperse the protesters. Security agents were stationed along major routes leading to Aso Rock while there was heavy presence of officers at Eagle Square, Unity Fountain, and the Three Arms Zone.

Access roads to the Federal Secretariat and the Three Arms Zone were also barricaded.

On Sunday, the police had warned the protesters to comply with a court order restricting demonstrations in designated high-security areas of the capital.

But the leader of the protest, Omoyele Sowore, told Channels Television’s The Morning Brief that the organisers had informed the police about the protest in advance.

Sowore, an activist, alleged that some protesters ‘were arrested and bystanders were forced into police vehicles’.

‘There were about 10 trucks that arrived at the same time we began the protest. There was no provocation on our part. As we had promised, it was an orderly and peaceful protest. It was an unprovoked attack from the police and a combined team of security operatives’, he said.

‘We had just started the protest in front of the Transcorp Hotel when a huge contingent of police, army and civil defence officers showed up. We told them we were not their enemies and that the protest was not against them.

‘But suddenly, from nowhere, they began shooting at us,tear gas and even some live bullets. Luckily, I don’t think anyone was hit by live ammunition, but they were shooting all around us.

‘Eventually, they arrested some people. I heard that Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother was arrested and beaten, and so was his lawyer. They have been taken to the FCT Command’, the activist explained.

Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPoB), was first arrested in 2015. He was granted bail in 2017 but fled Nigeria following the invasion of his home in Abia State.

In 2021, the IPOB leader was brought back to the country for the continuation of his trial. He is facing charges of terrorism and treasonable felony.

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11 Dead In Kenya Plane Crash —Airline

A small plane travelling from Kenya’s coast crashed on Tuesday, killing all 11 people on board, including foreigners, the airline said.

The small plane was en route to Kichwa Tembo — an airstrip located in the Maasai Mara National Park — from the tourist hotspot of Diani when it came down at around 5:30 am local time (0230 GMT).

Mombasa Air Safari chairman John Cleave confirmed the accident, and said there were 10 passengers — eight Hungarians, two Germans — and a Kenyan captain.

“Sadly, there are no survivors,” he said in a statement, citing preliminary information, adding that they had “activated our emergency response team” and were cooperating with local authorities.

“Our hearts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragic event,” the statement said.

An earlier statement from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the aircraft had been carrying 12 people at the time of the crash.

The KCAA gave no further details, but said that government agencies were already on site to establish the cause of the accident.

In August, a light aircraft belonging to the medical NGO Amref crashed on the outskirts of capital .

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Lagos Court Jails Train Driver 18 Months for N6.9m Theft

Justice Rahman Osodi of the Special offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, October 20,2025, convicted and sentenced one Christopher Ekene Ofielu, a driver with the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, to 18 months imprisonment for N6.9m theft.

The 39-year-old convict was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and possession to the tune of N6,995,944( Six Million Nine Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty Four Naira only)

One of the counts reads: “That you, Christopher Ekene Ofielu, on or about October 2023, Lagos, within this honourable court, used your Habaripay Squad account created for criminal activity and transferred the sum of N6,995,944 into your Access Bank account 14864072356, property of HabariPay Ltd.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to him

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Abubakar Dambuwa, called on Adams Adze, an investigator with the EFCC, to review the facts of the case.

In his review, Adze said the defendant was arrested, following a petition dated September 26, 2023 submitted by HabariPay Ltd to the Commission.

He also stated that Ofielu had capitalised on a system glitch to make the unauthorized withdrawal.

The prosecution counsel, thereafter, informed the court of a plea bargain entered into by the defendant, and also urged the court to convict the defendant accordingly.

Responding, the defence counsel, Mercy Akhabue, prayed the court for leniency and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

“My Lord, he is remorseful and is a first- time offender,” he added.

After listening to both parties, Justice Oshodi convicted Ofielu on the count of stealing and sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, starting from October 20, 2025.

Justice Oshodi, however, gave the convict an option of a fine in the sum of ₦1.5 million provided he fully restitutes the stolen amount to the tune of N 6,995,944 to HabariPay Ltd within seven days from his Access Bank account No. 14864072356, failing which the jail term of 18 months would apply .

The court also ordered the restoration of the convict’s Eco Bank salary account.

Justice Oshodi further ordered that the convict’s biometric data be registered in the Lagos State offenders’ register.

The convict was ordered remanded at the EFCC custody pending the execution of necessary documents.

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Governor Nasir Idris approves minor cabinet reshuffle in Kebbi

Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle as part of his administration’s continued efforts to strengthen governance and enhance efficiency across the state.

In a statement released on Monday by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Tafida, and made available to journalists in Birnin Kebbi, the governor announced the redeployment of two commissioners within the State Executive Council.

According to the statement, Samaila Augie has been moved to the Ministry of Health, while Haliru Wasagu has been redeployed to the Ministry of Internal Security.

Tafida explained that the decision reflects Governor Nasir Idris’s vision of repositioning the civil service to ensure effective and efficient service delivery to the people of Kebbi State.

“I am directed to convey the approval of the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, for the redeployment of the aforementioned honourable commissioners. This directive is for strict compliance and takes immediate effect,” the statement read.

The SSG expressed the governor’s appreciation to members of the Executive Council for their continued cooperation and commitment to the administration’s goals.

He reaffirmed Governor Nasir Idris’s dedication to fostering peace, unity, and improved public service delivery, emphasising that the reshuffle is a strategic step towards a more responsive and result-driven government.

The move, viewed as a positive adjustment, underscores the administration’s determination to maintain momentum in governance and deliver tangible results to the citizens of Kebbi State.