#ENDSARS: How hoodlums killed security operatives, burnt police facilities

The aftermath of the nationwide #ENDSARS protests, which left scores of security operatives and protesters dead, has continued to generate a lot of reactions across Nigeria and many other countries. The incident did not only lead to the death of security operatives and protesters, it also caused wanton destruction of public properties nationwide, among which […]

The aftermath of the nationwide #ENDSARS protests, which left scores of security operatives and protesters dead, has continued to generate a lot of reactions across Nigeria and many other countries.

The incident did not only lead to the death of security operatives and protesters, it also caused wanton destruction of public properties nationwide, among which were police facilities.

• On #EndSARS Protests, “Lazy Youths”, and an Incompetent Government
• APC’ll support Buhari to implement #EndSARS protesters’ demands – Gov Buni

Findings by Daily Trust showed that over 10 police officers were victims of the demonstrations across the country, while dozens of police stations were burnt.

The violence has continued in Abuja, Kano, Cross River, Lagos, Osun, Anambra, Imo, Ondo, Edo and many other states.

In the process, COVID-19 palliatives were looted, just as government’s properties have been attacked and destroyed.

In Abuja, for instance, the police unit at Dutse Makaranta, after Dutse-Alhaji, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was last week set ablaze following an alleged killing of a protester by the police.

The police were said to have stormed the protest ground to disperse the protesters, who blocked the road that leads in and out of the community.

In the ensuing melee, residents said the police shot directly at protesters, killing one and injuring many others.

Subsequently, the irate mob descended on the police station after they had freed those in the cells, and burnt it down.

One of our reporters who visited the community observed that the road was littered with burnt tyres.

Three buses were burnt, and one of them belonged to the Julius Berger Construction Company.

A customary court located in the community was also burnt by the irate mob.

Although the structure of the police station was still standing when Daily Trust visited the community, its roof was razed and corrugated sheets scattered around the area.

Our reporter also observed that a residential building behind the police station was not affected by the fire despite its proximity, thus indicating that the attack was well coordinated.

Success Daniel, a resident who witnessed the event, said the police were overpowered, with one of them sustaining a life-threatening injury.

The injured officer was later taken to a clinic afterwards.

“The youth in their huge numbers stormed the station, rolling a Hilux car parked nearby, which was used to burn the station,” she said.

In Ebonyi State, suspected hoodlums also razed a police station at Uburu, the home town of the Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi.

The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State command, Philip Maku, who confirmed the incident, condemned the incident, explaining that the suspected hoodlums invaded the station and attacked some police officers on duty, after which they set the station ablaze.

He added that some of his men on duty during the attack sustained several degrees of injury.

An eyewitness who does not want his name mentioned told one of our correspondents that the hoodlums struck around 1pm on Thursday.

He added that the hoodlums made away with guns and other valuables.

This brings to three, police stations in Ebonyi State that have burnt since the #ENDSARS protest was hijacked by hoodlums.

But in Abakiliki metropolis, armed soldiers took over the streets so as to enforce the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed by the state governor on Tuesday.

In the same vein, the protest in Port Harcourt, Oyigbo and Afam community of Rivers State turned bloody when suspected arsonists burnt down the Oyigbo police area command and killed two officers.

The arsonists, thereafter, proceeded to Afam, where a police station was razed down and all the police officers chased away.

An eyewitness told one of our correspondents that the arsonists invaded the Oyigbo area command located on the Port Harcourt/Aba expressway in the wee hours of Wednesday and set the armoured tank stationed at the entrance of the station ablaze before torching the entire building.

He said a police armoured tank driver was shot dead by the hoodlums while the entire police station was razed down.

He said another police officer was shot dead by the suspected arsonists while all the police officers at the station took to their heels.

About 20 vehicles, including a police Hilux van packed inside the premises of the police station, were set ablaze.

“It started at the midnight of Tuesday when we started hearing gunshots.

“Bullets were flying from all directions and we took cover because my house was very close to the police station.

“I overheard them shouting that they were on a revenge mission over the killing of innocent protester in Lagos.

“The driver of the amoured tank was shot dead.

“They forced their way into the station before setting it ablaze.

“One other police officer was also shot dead.

“We did not sleep all the night. The police officers inside the station, as well as those in the barracks, ran away,’’ he said.

The arsonists later moved to Afam and Umuebule, where two police stations were razed down and all the officers on duty took to their heels.

In Ogun State, the #EndSARS violence claimed the life of a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) attached to the command, DSP Augustine Ogbeche.

This happened during a violent clash between the police and #EndSARS protesters in Atan-Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

A Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Sikiru Olugbenga equally sustained injuries.

Two police stations – Oba/Oko, near Abeokuta, and Atan-Ota were also vandalised during different attacks in the state.

It was gathered that the daring protesters had, early on Wednesday, stormed the Atan-Ota police station and set it ablaze, an action that led to the death the DCO and a protester.

The spokesman of the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the development in Abeokuta, said some arms were carted away during the attacks.

He said, “In view of this, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State command, is appealing to the youth to eschew violence and embrace peace as violence will do no one good.

“He is equally appealing to traditional institutions, parents and other critical stakeholders to prevail on the youth to stop this carnage and give the government a chance to address the situation.

“We even released all the 36 suspects we arrested.’’

Apart from the police, an Assistant Inspector of Customs, Solomon Alagye, died on Tuesday when hoodlums reportedly attacked their patrol team at Oke Ore, Yewa South Local Government Area.

Another officer also sustained injuries.

In Edo State, no fewer than seven police stations were set ablaze by the hoodlums, under the guise of #EndSARS protests.

The police stations burnt by the hoodlums included Ugbekun; Idogbo; St Saviour, located in Ikpoba Okha Local Government; Textile Mill Road; Evbotubu and Ivbiotor in Egor Local Government, as well as Oba Market police stations in Oredo Local Government.

Some of the police stations, such Ugbekunb and Idogbo, were completely razed while others were vandalised and destroyed.

Vehicles parked at the stations were burnt and vandalised while arms and ammunition, as well as police uniforms found in the office were carted away.

Daily Trust learnt that few policemen were injured, but none was killed in the attack.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Celestine Okoye said 12 hoodlums had been arrested while some arms were recovered.

The incident was not different in Imo as not less than five persons were reportedly killed on Friday night in Anara in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State as protesting youths burnt down the Anara police station.

One of our correspondents gathered that the youth waited for cover of the night to carry out their activities after words had gone round early in the day that security agents were about to carry out mass arrests following the killing of a naval personnel at the Anara motor park.

The personnel was said to be one of the security personnel stationed at the Anara- Owerri road roundabout.

The police public relations officer in the state, SP Orlando Ikeokwu, who confirmed the incident, said that after the hoodlums burnt the police station, they proceeded to a newly built one at Amaraku.

He said a nearby security patrol was alerted and they proceeded to the area, but were engaged by the youths.

He said that at the end of the day, five of them were killed while three motorcycles and an AK47 rifle were recovered.

In Anambra State some police officers were also killed.

In a statement by the spokesman of the state command, SP Haruna Mohammed, it was learnt that, “On October 23, 2020, between 8:30am and 6:30pm, hoodlums in a large number attacked Amichi, Osumeyi, Ezinifite and Ukpor divisions, all under Nnewi South Local Government Area.

“They also attacked the Oraifite area command/division, vandalised and set the facilities ablaze, carting away exhibits but not arms and ammunition.’’

He said the DPO of Osumeyi division and two others were fatally wounded during the attack

“The injured officers were rushed to the hospital for medical attention, after which the DPO and the station officer in Osumeyi were confirmed dead.

“However, a police constable is responding to treatment.

“The hoodlums equally torched part of Awgbu police division, but they were later repelled by the police, in collaboration with members of the communities,’’ he stated, adding that six suspects had been arrested.