Point One

Residents of Akinlalu community in Ife North council area of Osun State are crying for justice over the killing of at least three of their members by operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps, in the state. Amotekun is the local security outfit raised by governments of Southwest states to foster security at the grassroots in complement to operations of the Nigeria Police. Akinlalu residents said an unprovoked attack visited on their community by Amotekun personnel on 30th September resulted in four fatalities and left nine others – mostly women and youths – severely injured. Among those killed were children of the Aro of Akinlalu, Chief Kamorudeen Oyebamiji. Official statements by the police and Amotekun acknowledged three fatalities and fewer injured persons.  According to local accounts, operatives of the security outfit a day previously arrested suspected thieves at a village close to Akinlalu, who managed to overpower the operatives and snatch...

It’s a fragile truce holding between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals over alleged anti-labour practices by the refinery, regarding which the labour body had called down industry Armageddon. PENGASSAN suspended its nationwide strike mid- last week, but warned the backdown was only temporary. It vowed speedy return to the trenches at the slightest indication of bad faith by Dangote. The labour association had, on Sunday, called an industrial action that momentarily crippled Nigeria’s oil and gas sectors, all in avowed bid to bring Dangote into line. Government had to mediate and, on Wednesday, PENGASSAN announced it was pulling back on “moral high ground” by bowing to government persuasion despite strong doubts about the sincerity of Dangote Group. “We are only suspending, not calling off this strike. If any part of this agreement is broken, we will not give any warning. We will immediately resume our s...