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Hunger protest: 14 feared killed as protest enters second day

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At least 14 people have reportedly lost their lives as a protest against the rising cost of living in Nigeria enters a second day.

Organisers have labelled the nationwide demonstrations as ’10 Days of Rage’ and #EndBadGovernance.

 

Africa’s most populous nation has been grappling with a cost of living crisis since President Bola Tinubu ended the petrol subsidy regime in 2023.

 

Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 34.19 percent in June 2024 — up from 33.95 percent in May.

 

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said food inflation surged to 40.87 percent in the month under review as prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages soared.

 

“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 11.40% points higher compared to the rate recorded in June 2023, which was 22.79%,” the bureau had said.

 

Fourteen deaths have so far been recorded in the federal capital territory (FCT), Niger, Borno, Jigawa, and Kaduna states.

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DEATHS

In Borno, four persons were killed when suspected Boko Haram members infiltrated a procession.

 

Farouq Lawal, commissioner of police in Borno, said 34 sustained various degrees of injuries.

 

Thereafter, a curfew was imposed, with Lawal adding that “normalcy has returned” to Maiduguri.

 

Two people were reportedly killed when the demonstrations turned violent in Suleja, Niger state.

 

Sadiq Suleja, a candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the Suleja federal constituency in the last election, said seven people were shot by security operatives, but two died.

 

The protesters were attacked by some “political thugs” who attempted to hijack the marches along the Suleja Club area of the state.

 

In Kano and Jigawa, mass looting and vandalism were recorded which led to the death of three people.

 

Kano saw the invasion of the government house and the destruction of a yet-to-be inaugurated Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) facility.

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Three people lost their lives in Kaduna. The protest in the north-western state turned ugly after a group of suspected hoodlums attempted to invade the government house.

 

They were dispersed after security operatives fired teargas.

 

In the FCT, one person was reportedly killed.

 

Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), said a police officer was murdered during the protest.

 

The IGP did not say where the incident occurred.

 

BUSINESSES SHUT

Most businesses across the country have been shuttered since the protest began on August 1.

 

In Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, banks, offices, and markets were closed on the first day of the demonstrations.

 

The scenario was replicated in the FCT and Kaduna, where businesses remained closed or partially opened for fear of the unknown.

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EFCC uncovers illegal oil refinery in Ogun

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives have uncovered an illegal oil refinery operated by Chinese nationals in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the facility was discovered on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 following intelligence gathering and surveillance of the activities of illegal sludge oil refiners.

Oyewale said the facility was deserted when operatives stormed the premises, following an earlier crackdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area.

The operatives discovered waste products from the refining process and underground tanks suspected to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.

According to the statement, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission uncovered an illegal oil refinery operated by Chinese in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

“The operation, conducted on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, followed credible intelligence and surveillance by the Commission on the activities of the illegal sludge oil refiners.

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“The refinery was found deserted when EFCC operatives stormed the premises, following the Commission’s earlier clampdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area. However, waste products from the refining process were discovered at the location.”

Oyewale said operatives also discovered underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.

“Two of the underground tanks inspected contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), otherwise known as diesel.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the operators sourced sludge oil, also known as black sludge, from Warri, Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and transported it to the illegal facility in Ogere for processing,” Oyewale added.

He said the operators subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through chambers and filters in a process believed to produce diesel for sale in the Nigerian market.

“Personnel at the facility told EFCC operatives that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities nor the name of the company behind the facility.

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“Consequently, operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC have since taken over the premises as investigations continue to establish the identities of the operators, the ownership of the facility and the full extent of the suspected illegal activities and economic sabotage,” he added.

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Police bust high-tech indoor Cannabis farm in Lagos, arrest two suspects

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The Lagos State Police Command says its operatives have uncovered a suspected high-tech indoor cannabis farm at a residential property in the  Apapa,l area of the state.

The suspects are a 49-year-old Polish national and a 36-year-old Nigerian.

According to the police, the suspects are Thomas Razvickas and James Chisome, both of whom reportedly reside at the property where the facility was discovered.

The operation was carried out on November 2 at about 8:15 a.m., following credible intelligence received by police operatives, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi.

A search of the premises led to the discovery of a sophisticated indoor farming facility reportedly equipped for the cultivation, harvesting and processing of substances suspected to be cannabis.

The police said the two suspects had been taken into custody, adding that they had made confessional statements and were providing useful information to assist ongoing investigations.

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The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Tijani Fatai, visited the scene to inspect the facility, assess the scale of the operation and receive a briefing on the investigation.

Fatai commended the operatives for their vigilance and intelligence-led policing, while reaffirming the Command’s commitment to tackling drug-related offences and dismantling criminal networks in the state.

He also appreciated members of the public for providing credible information and urged residents to sustain their cooperation with the police.

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Troops kill ISWAP commanders, two Arab fighters in Borno

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The gallant troops of the Nigerian Army have killed Abu Hajara, a high-profile member of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) Shura Council, and Abul Walid, a prominent commander and close associate of Ba Shuwa, the group’s overall Wali (leader).

In astatement issued on Sunday, the acting media information officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Mohammed Goni, said that two other high-ranking Arab fighters were also killed during the engagement in Kukawa LGA of Borno state on October 31.

Goni said the attack came three days after troops killed 55 terrorists, including three key commanders.

“Combined troops of Joint Task Force deployed in Kukawa defeated massive ISWAP terrorists attack on their locations and troops utilised both ground and air assets from the air component,” the statement reads.

“Following the engagement, troops recovered scores of arms, ammunition and communication devices.

“The successful engagement further demonstrates the combat readiness, vigilance and superior firepower of Operation HADIN KAI troops in sustaining pressure on terrorist elements across the theatre.

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“The attack on troops location at Kukawa comes barely 3 days after Buni Yadi attack where as at date 55 terrorists were neutralised including key commanders such as Ali Mandara Abba Gajiri (Munzir), Habu Ikkima Nakif Yana Faruk and Commander Gogore.”

Goni described the killing of the ISWAP fighters as a “significant blow to the leadership and operational capability” of the group.

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