- Confirm seven deaths, 681 arrests
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The Nigeria Police yesterday dismissed as false reports of deliberate action by security operatives to kill participants in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
The police particularly took exception to claims by Amnesty International that13 individuals have lost their lives since the commencement of the protest on Thursday.
Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi said that contrary to the claims by AI, the security operatives had no hand in the seven deaths known to the authorities so far.
According to Adejobi four individuals died in Borno State on Thursday in “a terrorist attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP elements who infiltrated the crowd of protesters and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).”
Thirty-four other persons were injured in the incident, he said.
“Additionally, an incident occurred involving an unregistered Honda Prelude car that ran into the protesters, resulting in the death of two civilians.
“The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene. Although the vehicle was vandalized after the incident, it has been recovered and is currently in police custody.
“Efforts are ongoing to trace the driver and bring him to justice.
“There was another incident reported in Yauri, Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State, where a group of individuals mobilized to loot a shop.
“In the process, a local vigilante man shot and killed one of the looters.
“The Commissioner of Police in charge of Kebbi State is currently investigating the incident.
“This brings the total number of deaths recorded during the protests to seven.”
Continuing, the police spokesman said: “It is important to state that there were no other recorded fatalities during the protests apart from those mentioned above.
“However, incidences of armed robbery, arson, mischief, looting of public institutions and private businesses, destructions of both public and private property were recorded during the protest.
“Arrests were made with respect to these criminal incidents and a number of recoveries made from the suspects while the protest was going on.
“The Nigeria Police personnel deployed to manage the protests have acted professionally, refraining from using lethal weapons.
“In instances where protesters became riotous, the police employed teargas to disperse them.
“Even when our officers on lawful duty were attacked and injured, the police effected arrests, using only teargas, demonstrating utmost restraint.
“In an effort to combat the trend of crimes and criminality, the police have arrested a total of six hundred and eighty-one (681) individuals who committed various criminal offences such as armed robbery, arson, mischief and destruction of both public and private property.
“Dangerous weapons, including two AK-47 rifles and assorted live ammunition, were recovered from the so-called protesters.
“Additionally, stolen items such as furniture, electronics, phones, other various shop items and vital infrastructures worth billions of naira were recovered from the arrested persons.
“Contrary to circulating news, organisers of the protest or protesters were not arrested. Those in police custody are under investigation for clear connections to criminal activities.”
Thirty-eight of the arrests were made in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday, 17 in Gombe State, 75 in Jigawa, 24 in Kaduna and 326 in Kano.
Katsina recorded seven arrests, Nasarawa 50 and Sokoto 81.
Sixty-three additional arrests were made on Friday, 57 of which were in Kano and six in the FCT.
Adejobi said nine police officers sustained various degrees of injuries during attacks by protesters.
He added: “One of them, who was initially reported dead, miraculously survived but remains in critical condition.
“The ongoing protest has obviously turned violent. We therefore advise law abiding citizens taking part in the protest across the country to immediately withdraw from it.
“This advice becomes necessary in view of the violence that has characterised the protest in the last two days.
“It is reasonably expected that peaceful protesters would have withdrawn from the protest that has turned violent.
“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to providing accurate information and ensuring the safety and security of all citizens during these challenging times.
“It is essential to recognise that the strategic deployment by the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, and the decisive clampdown on criminal elements exploiting the protests for unlawful activities, has been highly effective in quelling tension and curbing the violence and anarchy witnessed on the first day of the protests.
“During this challenging period, the Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to performing its lawful duties with professionalism, maintaining law and order, and preventing anarchy throughout the country.
“The Nigeria Police urges all citizens and residents to disregard unfounded and psychologically manipulative reports circulating about incidents during these protests.”
Say no one was killed in Kubwa
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command in a separate statement yesterday denied the killing of a teenager by security operatives in Kubwa.
Spokesman for the command said operatives deployed to the axis “were not issued lethal arms but only with anti-riot equipment not capable of occasioning the death of the teenager.”
However, Police Commissioner Benneth C. Igweh has ordered an immediate investigation to ascertain the remote cause of the victim’s death.
NLC President alleges killing of protesters
Citing ‘unconfirmed reports’, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, alleged that 40 lives have been lost to the protests.
He said: “With unconfirmed reports putting casualties at 40+ in two days of managing the EndHunger protest across the country, we have sufficient reasons (backed up by reports and video clips) to call to question the professionalism of our security personnel as this represents nothing but massacre of citizens.
“Had the security personnel deployed the same thoughtless brutal precision against bandits or other criminals, our country would have been an el dorado.
“As the lead-agency in internal security management, the police bear the burden of this massacre.
“Kaduna State police command represents the worst case scenario in which one of the fleeing protesters was heard on camera desperately appealing to deployed police personnel to not shoot until his voice was drowned by a hail of bullets with the resultant death of a protester on the spot and several injured.
“In the same breath, Edo State Police Command under the personal command of COMPOL Funsho Adegboroye represents the best in crowd management as he could be heard interacting and cajoling the protesters and almost effortlessly bringing them under control.
“It might be convenient to argue that the two states do have different socio-cultural milieu, however, an incontestable truth common to both, and indeed all the states, is that human life is sacred and should NEVER be taken.
“We are deeply saddened by this wanton taking of life by trigger-happy police personnel.
“In Asokoro, Abuja under the command of Compol Bennett Igweh, protesters were heard querying why the police were shelling or tear-gassing them as they were marching solemnly without breaking a twig.
“One noticeable pattern was that once police personnel introduced violence, all hell broke loose in fulfillment of the credo that violence begets violence.”
Police barricade Abuja stadium with vehicles, disperse protesters
Efforts by protesters to continue their action beyond the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja yesterday was frustrated by the police who fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
The police also barricaded the stadium with armoured patrol carriers and patrol vehicles.
Some protesters claimed the police fired live bullets at them.
No life lost in Katsina — Police
The Police Command in Katsina State said there was no loss of life recorded in the state during the protest.
The command’s spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said in a statement in Katsina that social media reports to that effect were untrue.
He said:“The command wishes to address a misleading viral video circulating on social media platforms of a security agent lying motionless on the ground alleged to have been shot dead by a police officer while trying to disperse protesters,.
“The video is manipulated and taken out of context as there was no such shooting incident throughout the command during the protest.
“The fact is that the security agent shown in the video is an officer of the NSCDC who fell from a patrol vehicle due to an accident involving the vehicle at the scene of the protest.
”He was immediately rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital (formerly Federal Medical Centre), Katsina, where he was treated and discharged,” Sadiq-Aliyu said.
He asked the public to disregard what he described as a ‘misinformation’, and always verify information through the official channels.
According to him, the command assures them of the strength of their synergy with sister security agencies in the state as they work together to maintain public safety and order.
“We are also assuring the public of our highest level of professionalism in the discharge of our duties, and we will continue to work tirelessly to maintain peace and stability in Katsina State,” he assured.
Strategise with us, Kwara police chief tells protest leaders
The Kwara State Police Command requested organisers of the protest in the state to meet with the Commissioner of Police to strategise on security measures and ensure the safety of all participants.
Command Spokesperson, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement, advised protesters to restrict their activities to court-designated venue in Ilorin, the state capital.
The advice came in the wake of the hijacking of the protest in Niger, Borno, Kano and Yobe states by hoodlums.
The police said:”Citizens wishing to exercise their franchise must comply with the recent court ruling in the state.
“We urge all groups to follow the court ruling, which stipulates that protests must take place at the Metropolitan Square along Asa-Dam Road.
“The Post Office is not an approved location for such gatherings.
Your cooperation is essential towards maintaining public order and safety.”
Protest loses steam
The crowd of protesters appeared to have thinned down considerably yesterday in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, although some youths returned to the streets of Kano waving Russian flags and calling for intervention by Russian President Vladimir Putin..
Protesters who had gathered at Ojota, Lagos made an attempt to block a section of the Ketu-Ojota axis of Ikorodu Road but were stopped by the police.
In Port Harcourt, the protesters were entertained by artist Sky B at the Rumuobiakani Roundabout.
There was a further improvement in socio-economic activities in the major cities yesterday.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde hailed the youth and parents in the state for keeping the peace.
The governor, who spoke through Information Commissioner Dotun Oyelade, appealed to residents to continue to be law abiding and ensure that their agitation is without rancour and incitement throughout the period.
Governor Makinde also called on Nigerians in states where various degrees of violence have been recorded during the protest to allow peace to reign as the search for good governance continues.
