Governors, Military Lack Power To Proscribe, Declare IPOB Terrorist Organisation – Saraki

The proscription and declaration of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, as a terrorist organisation is illegal, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has said, opposing the South-eastern governors and the country’s Armed Forces.

Mr. Saraki spoke on Monday in a statement he shared on Facebook and Twitter.

Last Friday, the governors of the five South-eastern states had announced proscription of all IPOB activities, moments after the military declared the separatist group a terrorist organisation.

But Mr. Saraki said the two moves did not follow due process and were made in violation of law.

“I also wish to state that the announcement of the proscription of the group known as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by Governors of the South-east states and the categorisation of the group as a ‘terrorist organisation’ by the Nigerian military are unconstitutional and does not follow due process,” said the Senate President.

“Our laws make clear provisions for taking such actions and without the due process being followed, such declaration cannot have effect.

“I am sure the President will do the needful by initiating the right process. This will go a long way in demonstrating to the world at large that we are a country that operate by laid down process underevery circumstance. So, those who have been hammering on this point should maintain their cool. National Assembly will investigate crisis in South-east.”

He, however, praised the military for efforts at maintaining peace, but warned against human rights violations, even in the face provocation.http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/243547-just-in-governors-military-lack-power-to-proscribe-declare-ipob-terrorist-organisation-saraki.html Read  more 

The “Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps” (LNSC) have arrested a teenager, Afolabi Omotoyosi, and 16 others for alleged cultism related offences in Mushin.

The police and some members of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, LNSC, have arrested 11 secondary school students suspected to be cultists. The suspects were allegedly terrorising members of the public with dangerous weapons in the state.

The Divisional Police Officer of Olosan Police Station, Adekunle Ominsakin, who confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday, said all the suspects belonged to the ”Gang Star’’ cult.

Mr. Ominsakin said the suspects claimed to have been in existence since 2013 operating as students, stressing that they were between 17 years and 18 years old.

“One student-suspect was brought to our station by LNSC on Friday. Our investigation led to the arrest of 10 other students, including a female student,” Mr. Omisankin said.

The spokesperson for the Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps, Adewale Afolabi, said that they had also arrested a JSS3 student, who was allegedly terrorising members of the public with dangerous weapons such as knives and machetes.

Mr. Afolabi said that the suspect, who resides at No. 243, Agege Motor Road, Ojuwoye in Mushin, Lagos Mainland, was alleged to be a student of a secondary school in Igbo Owu, Kwara.

“He had been terrorising the people and students of the area. The LNSC operational team arrested the suspect following intelligence information from the public”.

He confessed to the crime and also exposed his 16-member gang by giving their names and their hideouts to.

Mr. Afolabi said that the suspect had been transferred to the Olosan Police Station, Mushin for further investigation.