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Photos: Lagos State sets up Isolation Wards for Ebola victims

Photos: Lagos State sets up Isolation Wards for Ebola victims

Lagos State G overnment has built Isolation Centers for patients with symptoms of the Ebola virus at the Mainland Hospital in Yaba. Th...

Omoni Oboli responds to critics who question her directorial ability

Omoni Oboli responds to critics who question her directorial ability

Actress Omoni Oboli recently produced and directed her first movie 'Being Mrs Elliot t' and some people took her up and questi...

Tameka Raymond opens up about marriage to Usher

Tameka Raymond opens up about marriage to Usher

In the sit down with VH1 Tameka Raymond opened up about the pressures of being married to Usher in a promo for her new reality show, A...

GEJ declares national emergency on Ebola, approves N1.9b special intervention fund

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><br /> </h3><div class="post-header"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEY936edMZIZ3btoj_J_AkYp-50whHBYrlFad7ahDW_P1_xAhoY_JSkYM0uExnTQGfQXvKfRjTriMQbHtU_N0ZTZvWLSrsdavnQmZIzRkC8nLyFebp8GBQUUeP7HAJoCfycHl1xRRxprY/s1600/13177Ebola-Virus-1024x574.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEY936edMZIZ3btoj_J_AkYp-50whHBYrlFad7ahDW_P1_xAhoY_JSkYM0uExnTQGfQXvKfRjTriMQbHtU_N0ZTZvWLSrsdavnQmZIzRkC8nLyFebp8GBQUUeP7HAJoCfycHl1xRRxprY/s1600/13177Ebola-Virus-1024x574.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Below is the State House press release...</span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_625285942" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Friday</span></span> in Abuja declared the control and containment of the Ebola virus in Nigeria, a National Emergency. <a name="more"></a></span></span></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Accordingly, the President has directed the Federal Ministry of Health to work in collaboration with the State Ministries of Health, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to ensure that all possible steps are taken to effectively contain the threat of the Ebola virus  in line with international protocols and best practices. Continue...</span></span></span></div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1273158107245326844" name="more"></a></blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">President Jonathan also approved a Special Intervention Plan and the immediate release of N1. 9 billion for its implementation, to further strengthen on-going steps to contain the virus such as the establishment of additional isolation centres, case management, contact tracing, deployment of additional personnel, screening at borders, and the procurement of required items and facilities. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The President commends the vigilance of  aviation and health authorities in Lagos who identified and isolated the index case in Nigeria, the late Patrick Sawyer, an American-Liberian who flew into the country. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">He also applauds the good work of health authorities at both State and Federal levels who have traced persons who had contact with him, isolated  other identified cases and embarked on massive public enlightenment. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">President Jonathan calls for even greater vigilance and co-operation at all levels to stop the Ebola virus from spreading further.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As the effective implementation of the Federal Government's Special Intervention Plan will require other stakeholders to take certain precautionary steps that are supportive of the government’s initiative, the President calls on members of the public to follow all directives by health authorities and report any suspected Ebola case to the nearest health facility for immediate medical attention.  </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">He also enjoins the public to desist from spreading false information about  Ebola  which can lead to mass hysteria, panic and misdirection, including unverified suggestions about the prevention, treatment, cure and spread of the virus.   </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">President Jonathan urges that the movement of corpses from one community to the other, and from overseas into the country should be stopped forthwith. Every death should be reported to the relevant authorities, and special precautions should be taken in handling corpses. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Religious and political groups, spiritual healing centres, families, associations and other bodies should, in the meantime, discourage gatherings and activities that may unwittingly promote close contact with infected persons or place others at risk. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Public enlightenment agencies, including privately-owned media organs should support government’s efforts and disseminate correct information in all Nigerian languages, about preventive personal hygiene measures, the nature of the Ebola virus, modes of transmission and consequential steps to be taken in the event of infection.   </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">President Jonathan appeals to State governments and private day care, nursery, primary and secondary schools owners to consider the option of extending the current school holiday until such a time when a national reassessment of the level of the Ebola threat is conducted.  </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The President further directs the National Emergency Management Agency and similar agencies at the state level to strengthen their public enlightenment campaigns and to use their networks to distribute hand sanitisers and other protective items nationwide. He has also directed the aviation and health authorities to embark on immediate intensification of the screening of travelers at all the nation’s borders. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">President Jonathan reassures everyone that the Government of Nigeria will continue to take every step, deploy all resources, and mobilize every support and assistance to check the spread of Ebola in the country. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Medical workers and other health professionals are expected to regard this declaration of a National Emergency as a patriotic call to duty and service.  </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reuben Abati </span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Special Adviser to the President </span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Media and Publicity)</span></span></div></div>

GEJ declares national emergency on Ebola, approves N1.9b special intervention fund

Below is the State House press release... President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Friday in Abuja declared the control and containment of the E...

Singer Omarion shares adorable pics of himself & his new born son

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><br /></h3><div class="post-header"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEJfTO1koILlIfA7rFIHL2EPqIo_jOZE9fujC_DBA5JAwp_4rVJF9FCF6-Xjwcbnue208cNpv4_dN57QiGwkScxkjoqwYkFuP-PoSI91Kzae9iwDVA3HMi0rthUFfX4dTmSJsDgs4LAI/s1600/4.png" width="317" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICZCvcYR9dZ9lYlt4ehDY_qCmKd0IhO31IZg2ipoKQjoXDzgbR4xQBs-3G0wVwAnPBuZqm0VCeJmjcOMUAzyatPlNSG_4adTLfLk-n77cuGt_VSj13cdEQjJ1H4D0qf1qDuZwYVOu2p0/s1600/1.png" width="258" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>R&B singer Omarion and his girlfriend Apryl Jones welcomed their  first child together yesterday 7th August. The first time dad shared  these adorable pics of himself with his new born son, Megaa Omari  Grandberry. In one of the pics, Omarion wrote;<a name="more"></a><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"<span data-reactid=".11.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.0.0.1.2:1"><span data-reactid=".11.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.0.0.1.2:1.0">God is the realist! I witnessed a miracle. </span></span><span data-reactid=".6.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.0.0.1.2:1"><span data-reactid=".6.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.0.0.1.2:1.0">My  soul mate </span>Apryl<span data-reactid=".6.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.0.0.1.2:1.2"> is so strong! Not only did she have a un medicated birth (no drugs) she  did it at home. Naturally. Just like my mom had me. I love you.  thank you for having my legacy.  I'll forever belong to you and you  will forever be tied to me. Creating a child takes no love or skill but  being a parent requires lots of both. </span></span><span data-reactid=".11.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.0.0.1.2:1"><span data-reactid=".11.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.0.0.1.2:1.2">Thanks for watching me grow"</span></span></blockquote>I don't know what I like to see more...hot dudes or new born babies. I think the latter...:-)<br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1273158107245326844" name="more"></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSWjxXWrSqfMBs1p5Yur1dne9CWSG2rRGej6pIw_C3BRjPxsbzivc2eX7Kn-gGsNGEjRdNEkeBZonYwDRViF33cgVuM_vB06e2Ta9B1sx4XdtpyaZ9ComAwsQ7WGmRl1AYJTdICspCK8/s1600/a.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSWjxXWrSqfMBs1p5Yur1dne9CWSG2rRGej6pIw_C3BRjPxsbzivc2eX7Kn-gGsNGEjRdNEkeBZonYwDRViF33cgVuM_vB06e2Ta9B1sx4XdtpyaZ9ComAwsQ7WGmRl1AYJTdICspCK8/s1600/a.png" /></a></div></div>

Singer Omarion shares adorable pics of himself & his new born son

R&B singer Omarion and his girlfriend Apryl Jones welcomed their first child together yesterday 7th August. The first time dad sha...

OMG!!: Oh dear! Chris Brown posts pic of himself licking a woman's bare butt

OMG!!: Oh dear! Chris Brown posts pic of himself licking a woman's bare butt

Chris Brown is beginning to act like he really has bipolar...lol. In the last few days he's been posting and deleting pics on his ...

APC Spokesman, Mr Lai Mohammed Arrested In Osun

APC Spokesman, Mr Lai Mohammed Arrested In Osun

The spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has been arrested by security agents in Osogbo, on the eve of th...

Ebola Cure: Challenging Nigeria To Develop Our Own ZMapp

Ebola Cure: Challenging Nigeria To Develop Our Own ZMapp

#GiveAfricaZmapp or #AfricanCure: Challenging Nigeria To Develop Zmapp Ebola Cure Necessity is the mother of invention. Today we hav...

Are They Policemen OR Armed Robbers?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><br /></h3><div class="post-header"> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI61qrwnwN1DRvOuhT3rkoVTrsHpWvhO2vndf4PwxtoUoERRPg0Z_-rFLJuL0PTOODzXSCeLrlNHAA5fVLmhp26xdn6mlIqx11gOoLg8iX45l6iik9-sOoT-tmyV8Zu9U99rR3mvHbfd8b/s1600/Police+or+Robbers.jpg" width="400" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>The time was 7am and traffic was absolutely crazy on a fateful Monday  morning at the popular Gate Bus stop, Iyana-Ipaja – Ipaja Road, Lagos.  Mr. Olu Akinyemi was one of the Lagos residents trying to meander his  way and see if he could get out of the terrible gridlock to get to his  Ikeja office before the 8am resumption time.<a name="more"></a><br /><br />Just as Akinyemi was applauding himself that he outsmarted other  motorists in beating traffic, 3 men suddenly appeared from nowhere in  front of his car and ordered him to pull over towards Federal Junction  Bus stop.<br /><br />Confused and angry at the same time, Akinyemi, who said he was already  looking at his time piece, said he wasn’t going to pull over since he  didn’t know who the people were or what their mission was.<br /><br />But at the sight of the guns they pointed towards him, Akinyemi quickly  pulled over, wondering how robbers could have the guts to operate that  early morning in such a busy area.<br /><br />But stunned Akinyemi said he was surprised when the men started asking him for his vehicle particulars.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">In his words: “<span style="color: #cc0000;">They were in mufti; black T-shirt and jeans, two wore shoes, and one wore slippers</span>.  They came to me and asked for my driving licence, vehicle documents and  that I should open my boot all at once. I only saw the logo of the  Nigeria Police Force faintly on the black shirts they wore, which was  not conspicuous enough for identification from distance, and I didn’t  want to assume who they were, so, I asked them to identify themselves.”</blockquote><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1273158107245326844" name="more"></a><br />According to Punch, Akinyemi never knew he made a costly mistake, as that question was the beginning of his trouble on that day.<br /><br />“I didn’t know that could spring trouble. They told me to come down;  they searched me and my two colleagues in the car, checked my papers,  and more importantly, wasted my time, in the morning when I was going to  my place of work. Later, they allowed me to go, even though they didn’t  identify themselves still. I only assumed they were policemen, coupled  with the way they spoke in rough pidgin,” he added.<br /><br />Such has been the testimony of many residents who have been accosted  since some men of the Nigeria Police Force, especially those in the  mobile unit, took to wearing mufti abandoning their official dress. It  was also observed that the appearance of some of the policemen could  make anyone doubt if they were indeed officers of the Force, as they  sometimes wear bathroom slippers and dress in an unwholesome manner.<br /><br />Even though it is common practice and acceptable for policemen and other  men in uniform to wear mufti as undercover agents, and in such  situations, they are not seen with arms, unlike the way the way Nigerian  policemen parade their guns in spite of being in mufti, oft making it  difficult to differentiate them from impersonators or armed robbers.<br /><br />A management and security consultant and President of the Association of  Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria, Dr. Ona Ekhomu,  said the act of Nigerian police officers wearing mufti while carrying  guns was very unfortunate and should not be tolerated. He said it was  wrong for a policeman not in uniform to carry weapons.<br /><br />“There is no condition under which a policeman on duty should be dressed  in mufti and be carrying weapons. If you are under cover, then you  should have concealed weapon under your garment because you cannot be  under cover and carry a rifle. It should not be visible to people,” he  said.<br /><br />He added that the situation was another indication of the indiscipline  that has permeated almost every aspect of Nigerian system and that such  things facilitate a lot of crime.<br /><br />Ekhomu said, “I have been a victim of it. I was attacked in October last  year on my way to Edo State. The people who attacked me had police  weapons and vests on but they turned out to be kidnappers with some  police elements among them. I had to fight my way out of that crisis.<br /><br />“It is also an act of cowardice on the part of the policemen. Because  they say the reason why they are dressed like that is to prevent attack  on them, but they carry weapons. That singular act provides a leeway and  cover for criminal elements to operate and prey on innocent citizens.  It is the highest form of indiscipline. It is subversive to the police  agency itself. It shows that these police personnel do not regard their  employer and the organisation they work for.”<br /><br />When the students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno  State were abducted on April 14, it was reported that the abductors came  in military uniform, thus suggesting to the abducted girls that they  were in care of men of the Nigerian Army.<br /><br />Report also indicated that many other attacks by the Boko Haram  insurgents in the troubled North East region were carried out by the  militants in the official uniform of Nigerian Army, giving the villagers  a false sense of safety, thereby unleashing terror on them.<br /><br />Investigations and close observations by Saturday PUNCH revealed that  some police officers, especially in Lagos, preferred to wear mufti even  on duty; carrying guns and intimidating both pedestrians and motorists  in the metropolis.<br /><br />Respondents who spoke to our correspondent said the presence of the  policemen was more prevalent around the Pen Cinema divisional police  station, Agege, Lagos Island, Iyana Ipaja, Ogba, Oshodi, Obalende and  other parts of Lagos.<br /><br />It was further observed that apart from moving about with guns, some of  them use commercial buses, popularly called danfo to patrol, harass the  citizens and extort money from them. Saturday PUNCH observed that,  sometimes, the policemen hide in the buses, waiting for offenders or  gullible passers-by to interrogate.<br /><br />“They move around a lot, but they are usually not far from this Pen  Cinema area, and sometimes, they harass and intimidate people with their  use, extort motorists and do all sorts of things one would not have  expected from those who are paid to protect lives and properties”, a  trader around Pen Cinema confided in our correspondent.<br /><br />It was alleged that they preferred to operate under the guise of being  mobile police officers or men attached to the Rapid Response Squad. It  has also been alleged that since the mufti dresses do not have name-tags  on them, people might not be able to identify them, if there was need  to, unlike the normal police uniform with name and number.<br /><br />A cross section of residents who spoke to our correspondent said that  the only form of identifying such police officers was through their guns  as, usually hanged on their shoulders.<br /><br />Some respondents told Saturday PUNCH that when people ask the police  officers to identify themselves, oftentimes, they refuse and even get  angry sometimes.<br /><br />Mr. Elijah Ileojoka told Saturday PUNCH that it was condemnable to have  police officers wearing mufti and carrying arms in the face of the  insecurity in the country.<br /><br />“It is easy to take an armed robber for a policeman and a policeman for  an armed robber. How do you identify them. Moreover, when you realise  that they are officers, there is no difference between the way they  approach you and when you are being accosted by armed robbers. Because  they point their guns at you, subject people to psychological torture,  and when you remember the past incidents of extra-judicial killings  which they have termed accidental discharge, you tend to shiver and obey  them.<br /><br />“I once asked one of them to identify himself when he stopped me,  instead of showing me his Identity Card or telling me who he was, he got  angry and asked why I should question him. I even looked around if I  could see the vehicle they came in so I could identify where they came  from, but there was none.<br /><br />“So I did all that he wanted me to do and showed him everything he asked  for because the way he held his gun was scary, and I didn’t want to be a  victim of accidental discharge. Some of us have been to other countries  and we know how things work there. But when you compare their uniformed  men there with what we have here, you would marvel.”<br /><br />To Mr. Ihemovie, an Edo State-born driver with one of the inter-state  commercial bus operators, it is very easy to mistake a police officer in  mufti with an armed robber.<br /><br />Ihemovie said, “These days when robbers strike in daytime, regardless of  location, how best do you distinguish them from police officers who are  in mufti?<br /><br />“The other day, I was coming from Benin, and close to Lagos and the  traffic on Lagos-Ibadan expressway was heavy. The sun was scorching  enough to make one lose patience. When I was able to manoeuvre my way  out of the traffic, I was thankful and hoped for a smooth ride through  Berger and Ogba to Iyana Ipaja park.<br /><br />“When I passed Pen Cinema and I got to Oke Koto Bus Stop in Agege,  around 5pm, I was stopped by some men with guns. They wore black T-Shirt  and jeans and pointed their guns at the car even before I got to them.  One of them came to me while the other two retreated to attend to other  cars behind me.<br /><br />“He demanded for my licence and I asked him to identify himself because  there was nothing to identify him as an officer in the army, navy,  police or any other paramilitary agency. He showed me something that  looked like a photocopy, but I could see the faint police logo on it. It  was rough and dirty and I could barely see his name or number.<br /><br />“I was shocked when I saw what he called ID card. I knew that, ideally, a  police officer operating under such guise was supposed to show his ID  to anybody he wanted to interrogate even without being asked, for  psychological stability. He said they were out to investigate. He  checked my papers and allowed me to go.<br /><br />“Sometimes, some of us know they are police personnel, but nothing about would confirm that.”<br /><br />Such was the testimony of many other motorists who spoke to our  correspondent. Findings showed that instead of the police officers to  identify themselves when motorists request for it, they get angry and  find ways to embarrass, delay and crucify such persons.<br /><br />Mr. Isakwe is also a driver with another public transport operator. He  said, “I used to see them from time to time at various locations. I once  saw them around Ikotun Egbe, though they didn’t stop me, I saw them  talking to other motorists.<br /><br />“What amazes me about their conduct, apart from wearing mufti without  proper identification, is the way they raise their guns. And you  wouldn’t know if people were under armed robbery attack or they were  being checked by men of the Nigeria Police Force.”<br /><br />Another respondent, Mr. Olaitan, a civil servant in the Lagos State  civil service, said that when he sees police officers in mufti, he is  usually scared because of the way they carry their arms, and for the  fear of accidental discharge.<br /><br />“Ideally, you’re supposed to have comfort and peace of mind when you see  a police officer approaching, but not with the Nigeria Police. The  moment you see them, you start thinking of how safe you are or what you  have done wrong.”<br /><br /><br /><br />According to reports, the sect members usually dress in military uniform  to carry out their attacks so as to deceive the residents.<br /><br />Meanwhile, a military officer, Sergeant Ibrahim, told our correspondent  that such practice was not allowed in the military, as officers had been  warned never to wear mufti or half uniform while on duty except on  special assignment.<br /><br />“The rule in the military is that if you use any of the dressing kits,  you must dress in full. You cannot wear only cap or vest as uniform.”<br /><br />The Managing Director, Symbiotic Business Solution Ltd, Chigozie Ubani,  said the activities of the special squads in the police should be under  serious scrutiny both by the police authorities and the public due to  possible abuse.<br /><br />“Citizens must know their rights which include a bold but polite demand  for the identity of police officers, and travellers should equip  themselves with high-tech surveillance devices that they can use to  capture voice and motion picture evidence to expose the excesses of  overzealous officers,” he said.<br /><br />Ekhomu hinted that police work was not for those who wanted to be rick  quickly, but that most officers in the police force want to get rich  quick.<br /><br />“If you want to be rich, get out of the police and become a businessman  and be rich. How can you be a servant and guardian of the people and yet  you want to be rich? If you desire to be a rich man, go and be like  them. You can’t be in and out of uniform, doing anti-social conducts,  all in the name of your salary is not enough. If your salary is not  enough, quit the job, many others are waiting to get the job,” he said.<br /><br />When asked why the police hierarchy could not check the indiscriminate  use of mufti and weapons, Ekhomu said, “In some cases, the senior men  are also engaged in unbecoming conducts, so they cannot correct their  underlings. When you are a boss and you are misbehaving, how do you  correct your juniors? In that case, indiscipline is further enshrined in  the DNA of the organisation. Wearing of bastardised uniform is wrong  and nobody is complaining. Unfortunately, some of these people are  carrying weapons, if you move near them, they could shoot you.<br /><br />“When Sir Robert Tule set up this current model of policing that we are  working on, he said that policemen will inspire confidence with the way  they dress and that is why you see the British police and others in the  world are always very proud of their uniform and service to the  community.?<br /><br />When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State  Command, Ngozi Braide, said said mufti was allowed in the police.<br /><br />She said, “Most of the policemen seen in mufti are actually operating  undercover. Without their uniforms, it is not easy for criminals to  sight them especially when the criminals are moving in a vehicle.<br /><br />“But the Lagos State Police Command monitors the conduct of its men  especially as it pertains to dressing. My office; the police public  relations office and the public complaint bureau acts on complaints  about the conduct of policemen. We check these things. The X-Squad also  checks. The office of Provost is in charge of discipline and it is  always working to ensure compliance of codes of ethics on the job.</div></div>

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Election Commences In Osun Amidst Security Intimidation

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="post-header"> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQ0eVlxNZDndsYBDG-vykwCcphXQFglc9ozsm__oEbnHZ5JpIv4xAqXAsx0uCnrsyxHZr6bg4rLxD4eENyMl2LoKpDcIsA2Pa1XAaPqyOYf8i5i9gNWfP8sNy38N74sJUd3u3YEacdpoQ/s1600/OSUN+VOTE+2.jpg" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXgktdNUEkVZP3usglDaKVJFsINbM2GjXhgchz3xMGXb8DHHwxgInj2UW_my1wseg9EyliNLfYwAHsh2bnf2kU6YjW_98mwUvgI1byvOzlqRmkqCTIH16kfJvbDES9V0-lgsFeFPMRy9A/s1600/1+TWEET+2.jpg" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIygU0s6jfxKwj2scNJ_MWfwMUVoQUvnYeod-qHlUX4eHCJSIRr_uxSXHbRdqU6Fi_OiimUVeG492ZWLwnpUVNFWuUjKhbQgdslb3R2CiYXXbVx8b77-sSa3b69wMvzwLc26V4nwH1TAIO/s1600/1+TWEET+2.png" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">What has Nigeria turned into? Is there no way someone can go to court to  challenge this rubbish being done to the people on election day all in  the name of security? Must we continue with this impunity in Nigeria?<br /><br />As early as 8:05am, accreditation of voters commenced is many polling  units across the state of Osun. But the sad part is that SSS and other  security agents are said to be arresting many APC leaders which the  party want to be on ground in polling units to checkmate any fraud.<br /><br />So far, sources say over 60 APC members have been as election commences.</div></div>

Election Commences In Osun Amidst Security Intimidation

What has Nigeria turned into? Is there no way someone can go to court to challenge this rubbish being done to the people on ...