The Guardian (Nigeria)

Hoodlums rob travellers, motorists in Delta as Edo auto crash claims four

• Yoruba musician, Pasuma, escapes lynching • PWDS seek justice for victims of SARS operatives

- From Matthew Ogune ( Abuja), Eniola Daniel ( Lagos), Chido Okafor ( Warri) and Michael Egbejule ( Benin City)

WARRI and neighbouri­ng Effurun settlement­s bore the brunt of the protests, yesterday, as hoodlums from Uvwie axis resorted to snatching of handsets and valuables of travellers and motorists plying the strategic East- West Road. The rowdiness led to diversion of routes resulting in some passengers getting stranded, as the three motor parks in Effurun were rendered inoperable on account of the campaign.

One of the leaders and chairman of Delta State Comedians Associatio­n, MC Okolokopap­a, circulated a live video, warning government to accede to the demands of the marchers, hence they would storm Government House, Asaba.

MOREOVER , no fewer than four were feared killed on Saturday night by a speeding T oyota Sports Utility Vehicle ( SUV) on the ever- busy First East Circular Road in Benin City , the Edo State capital.

According to an eyewitness account, the quartet were setting bonfires at about 8: 00p. m. when the automobile ran over them.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, could not be reached for comments, as his telephone lines were not connecting at the time of filing this report.

ALSO yesterday, Fuji musician, W asiu Alabi ( aka Pasuma), narrowly escaped being mobbed by the campaigner­s at Alausa secretaria­t, Lagos over his alleged comment of “I am not a youth” and romance with the ruling All Progressiv­es Congress ( APC).

The protesters accused the Yoruba artiste of making inciting remarks on a regular basis.

He had barely arrived the venue at 3: 26p. m. than the youths started pelting him with sachet water.

Although he later mounted the podium, the shout of “come and be going” was deafening.

The musician was only able to tell the hostile crowd that “we are one.”

He was thereafter dragged off the stage, and it took the interventi­on of security men to whisk him off the scene.

MEANWHILE, the Centre for Citizens with Disabiliti­es ( CCD) has called on judicial panels of inquiry to thoroughly investigat­e the outlawed security outfit with respect to infliction of disability on their victims.

Its Executive Director, David Anyaele, who made the call yesterday in Abuja, said his organisati­on observed that many of the survivors were struggling with different forms of disability ranging from physical, mental, emotional and sensory impairment­s.

He added that these injuries were hindering the victims from equity in the society.

The director commended youths for leading the struggle to end the activities of the disbanded police squad.

 ?? PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN ?? # ENDSARS protesters still have love of country at heart, displaying the national flag in Ikeja… yesterday.
PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN # ENDSARS protesters still have love of country at heart, displaying the national flag in Ikeja… yesterday.

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