News
MRA Calls on Lagos State Government to Obey Court’s Order
MRA Calls on Lagos State Government to Obey Court’s Order
…Investigate Reporter’s Death and Prosecute Killers
By: Our Reporter
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Lagos State Government to comply with the order of a Federal High Court in Lagos directing it to ensure an investigation into the death of Mr. Pelumi Onifade, a 20-year reporter with Gboah TV, who was reportedly arrested by the Police while covering the #EndSARS protests in 2020 and later found dead, and to identify and prosecute those responsible.
In a letter written on the organization’s behalf by its lawyer, Mr. Kingsley Kenechukwu, of the law firm of Charles Musa and Co., dated August 22, 2024 and addressed to the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, MRA urged the Government to “comply with the directives of the honorable court so that justice would be seen to be done and hope given to the common man that there is still justice in the judicial system.”
Mr. Kenechukwu reminded the Attorney-General of the July 19, 2024 decision by Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji, citing page 15 of the judgment where the court directed him to take “all necessary steps to see to the investigation of the circumstances of the death of Pelumi Onifade and to conduct a coroner’s inquest to ascertain the cause of the death.”
The lawyer also referred to paragraph 14 of a counter-affidavit dated March 20, 2023 filed in the suit by the Attorney-General in which he stated that he would prosecute anyone found to have a prima facie case established against him in relation to the death of Mr. Onifade.
Mr. Kenechukwu recalled in the letter that during oral arguments which took place on May 13, 2024 in the suit instituted by MRA against the Police and the Lagos State Government over the death of the journalist, Mr. A. Amu, who represented the Attorney-General, also indicated willingness and readiness of the Attorney-General to conduct an inquest into the death.
He said in the light of these, MRA is praying the Government to comply with the court’s directives in the interest of justice.
MRA filed the suit against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of Lagos State, asking the Court, among other things, to declare that Mr. Onifade’s shooting in Oko Oba in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, by policemen on October 24, 2020 in the course of his journalistic work is unconstitutional and a gross violation of his fundamental rights while his arrest and subsequent restriction on his liberty by the Police were unlawful.
Although Justice Faji held in his judgment that there was no evidence before the court to support MRA’s claim that the late journalist died in the custody of the Police after which his body was deposited at the Ikorodu Mortuary in Lagos, he however granted the organization’s request to order an investigation and directed the Attorney-General to take all necessary steps to see to the investigation of the circumstances of Mr. Onifade’s death; conduct a coroner’s inquest to ascertain the cause of the death; and identify and prosecute those responsible for his death.
MRA Calls on Lagos State Government to Obey Court’s Order
Troops foil attack on Rim community, three killed in Gwarim, Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Nigerian troops have foiled an attack on Rim community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, while three residents were reportedly killed in a separate incident at nearby Gwarim community.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 25, when troops deployed in the area responded to an attack on Rim community at about 6:08 p.m.
The troops engaged the attackers and successfully repelled the assault without any casualty among the personnel or members of the community.
However, at about 6:46 p.m., the troops responded to another report of gunfire at Gwarim community, also in Riyom LGA.
On arrival at the location, the troops discovered the bodies of three residents who had been killed while reportedly keeping watch in the bush outside the community.
The corpses of the victims were recovered and subsequently handed over to members of the community for further necessary action.
The troops have since intensified patrols and are dominating the area in an effort to locate and apprehend the perpetrators.
The latest incidents come amid heightened security concerns in parts of Plateau State, particularly communities around Riyom and neighbouring areas.
Troops foil attack on Rim community, three killed in Gwarim, Plateau
Operation Savannah Shield troops foil attempted kidnapping of farmers in Niger
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Savannah Shield have foiled an attempt by suspected terrorists to kidnap farmers at their farmlands in Tudun Harara village, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident occurred at about 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 25, 2026, when troops of the NATRAC Administrative Battalion, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kotonkoro, responded to a distress report on the attempted abduction.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the troops engaged the terrorists upon arrival, forcing them to withdraw into the surrounding forest.
During the encounter, the fleeing terrorists abandoned a motorcycle, which was recovered by the troops.
The operation is part of ongoing efforts by security forces to protect farming communities and deny criminal elements freedom of action across Niger State.
Operation Savannah Shield troops foil attempted kidnapping of farmers in Niger
Operation Fansan Yamma troops foil ransom exchange, rescue kidnapped woman in Kebbi
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, have rescued a kidnapped woman and disrupted a planned ransom exchange in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The troops, conducting counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations in the state, carried out the successful operation on Aug. 26, 2026, following credible intelligence on the planned ransom payment.
Zagazola Makama gathered from security sources that the victim had been abducted from her farm sometime last month, while the criminals were preparing to collect ransom in exchange for her release.
Acting on the intelligence, the troops swiftly mobilised to intercept the transaction.
Sources said the criminals attempted to engage the advancing troops after sighting them but were overwhelmed by the troops’ superior firepower.
The bandits subsequently fled in disarray, abandoning the hostage, who was immediately secured by the troops.
The victim was found unharmed and later transported to safety before being reunited with her family in Danko-Wasagu LGA.
Following the rescue, the troops conducted a thorough exploitation of the withdrawal route to ensure that the area was fully secured before returning to base.
In a related operation, the troops also conducted clearance and dominance patrols in Ngaski Local Government Area as part of efforts to maintain peace and deny criminal elements freedom of movement.
The patrols were completed without incident, further strengthening security presence and reassuring residents in the affected communities.
Operation Fansan Yamma troops foil ransom exchange, rescue kidnapped woman in Kebbi
Troops foil attack on Rim community, three killed in Gwarim, Plateau
Operation Savannah Shield troops foil attempted kidnapping of farmers in Niger
Army troops recover 97 rustled livestock, hand them over to owners in Kano
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