19 Protesters, 1 Police Killed, Scores Injured, Arrested, Properties Worth Billions Destroyed On Day 1 EndBadGovernance Protest ~ OsazuwaAkonedo #Abuja #Adenola #Adeolu #Baga #Bauchi #Bola #Bolori #Borno #Damilare #Egbetokun #Gombe #Igp #Ikeja #Jigawa #Kaduna #Kano #Kayode #Niger #Tinubu #Yobe https://osazuwaakonedo.news/19-protesters-1-police-killed-scores-injured-arrested-properties-worth-billions-destroyed-on-day-1-endbadgovernance-protest/02/08/2024/ #Issues Published: August 2nd, 2024 Reshared: August 2, 2024 12:19 pm Over 20 persons including 19 protesters and one policeman were on Thursday killed in
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00:00Over 20 persons including 19 protesters and one policeman were on Thursday killed in some
00:05steps as the nationwide Enba governance protests began in Nigeria. Most of the dead victims were
00:11killed by security operators as more than 200 protesters were arrested across the country
00:16with billions of Naira worth of goods and properties destroyed by the aggrieved Nigerians
00:20who took to the streets following what many called hunger in the land due to the high cost
00:25living by Timbukem in the country since president Bola Timbukem came into power on May 29, 2023.
00:32Since Timbukem came into power, prices of foodstuffs have continued to be on the increased
00:37side apparently due to some political decisions the president took to address the economic
00:42situation in the country right from the day he was sworn into power. Videos and official
00:47statements from various states in the country on Thursday indicated that three protesters were
00:52killed in Kanu state, six killed in Niger state, three killed in Kaduna state, one killed in Abuja,
00:58two killed in Jigawa state and four protesters were killed allegedly by bomb explosion in Bonu state.
01:04Some Nigerians on social media believe the four persons in Bonu state were killed by
01:08security operatives but the inspector general of police RGP at a press briefing on Thursday evening
01:14said the protesters were killed by bomb explosion. The four protesters were killed
01:19at Polori junction along Baga road in Bonu state. The IGP said one police officer was
01:25murdered with several others injured by some protesters he described as hoodlums.
01:30It was gathered that no fewer than 50 persons in Katsina state suspected to be responsible for the
01:36hijack of the protest in the state which led to violence have been arrested by the state police
01:41command. The state police public relations officer Agubaka Sadiq told journalists on Thursday that
01:47the state is relatively calm as the protest has been contained. Nigeria police force confirms it
01:53had arrested over 157 persons in Kanu state. Amnesty International has condemned the killing
02:00of protesters allegedly by security personnel across Nigeria describing the incident as
02:06unjustified and unacceptable. Inspector general of police Kayode Adeoluwe Betokun during the
02:13press briefing said in quote thus it is with great sense of responsibility that I address you this
02:17evening. You will recall that upon several indications by various groups of their intent
02:23to commence a nationwide protest on the 1st of August 2024 we rolled out several warnings based
02:28on actionable intelligence at our disposal indicating that some groups were mobilizing
02:33our youth for violent protests with intent to create anarchy in the country. While some groups
02:39claiming to be mobilizing for peaceful protests were doing so with violent undertones refusing
02:44to cooperate with the police on measures to be taken to guarantee peaceful protest.
02:49On the basis of this intelligence the police advised that the protest should be shelved at
02:53the instant time. Where the organizers insisted on going on with the protest they were advised
02:59to stage the protest in confined locations. This would have enabled the police provide
03:04adequate protection for the protesters and isolate the criminals whose intention was to
03:09loot and destroy in the name of a protest. This we were doing in furtherance of our duty to protect
03:15lives and property and maintaining law and order. While we affirm the constitutional rights of
03:21citizens to assemble and express their views on issues of national importance we were wary about
03:26the dangers posed by agitation instigated by some individuals who have shown tendencies to be
03:31disloyal to the government of the day. Despite our suspicions we showed good faith through
03:37professional conduct by providing security at strategic locations all aimed at ensuring
03:43peaceful conduct during the protest as the promoters pledged. Our men deployed nationwide
03:48went out with a clear brief to ensure that no one is unnecessarily harassed or intimidated.
03:54In places where there were court orders we gave instructions for observance of them.
03:59Regrettably events in some major cities today showed that what was being instigated was mass
04:04uprising and looting not protest. Those who were in the forefront of promoting the idea of the
04:10protest were not around to lead it. Kudlums have been let loose on innocent Nigerians and their
04:16hardened businesses and property looted and destroyed. The motive of the rioters was basically
04:21to loot and destroy both private and government property. The destruction so far has been
04:27mind-boggling. There has been destruction in Kano, Bonu, Yobe, Kaduna, Gombe, Balchi, FCT Abuja,
04:35Niger, Jigawa. Police stations have been destroyed. There has been attempts to take over government
04:42houses, looting of government infrastructures. Several warehouses and shops have so far been
04:47looted and in several instances completely destroyed. In spite of the refusal of the
04:53protesters, for instance in FCT to adhere to a court order requesting that protests in Abuja
04:58should be at the national schedule, they trooped into the streets and yet the police provided
05:03security for them. At no point did we breach their fundamental rights even as they breached court
05:08order. In places like FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, among others, we recorded incidents of unprovoked
05:16attacks on security personnel where one policeman has been reported murdered and others seriously
05:21injured. We alerted earlier on that terror elements may take advantage of the protests
05:26to infiltrate the crowd of protesters with suicide bombers. Yesterday in Lagos, our UOD team was
05:33informed of a suspected IED on BAMP Anthony Wake Ikeja. The team responded swiftly and rendered
05:39self-worth turned out to be an improvised explosive device wired. Today in Bonustet, we recorded one
05:45incident of explosion which occurred in the crowd of protesters killing four instantly and severely
05:50injuring 34 others, many of whom are presently on danger list. We wish to advise law-abiding
05:57citizens of Nigeria to heed and not dismiss warnings given by the police and other security
06:02agencies which were based on credible and actionable security intelligence. In the light of
06:08the current situation, the Nigeria police force has placed all units on red alerts. Our officers
06:14are fully mobilized and prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to any further threats
06:19to public safety and order. We remain committed and resolute to protecting lives and property
06:25and ensuring that law and order are maintained across the nation. Groups who are hiding under
06:30the guise of exercise of a right provided in the constitution to destabilize the country should
06:35remember that the same constitution imposed on them the duty to obey the laws of the land and
06:40respect the rights of other citizens. The police is equipped to respond appropriately to the
06:45unfolding situation and will get assistance from other security agencies including the military if
06:51the need arises. We appeal to all citizens to remain calm and cooperate with the police and
06:56other security agencies during this challenging period. Your safety is our top priority and we
07:03will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure continued peace and stability in our
07:08country. Thank you, the IGP stated. The director of mobilization, take it back movement, Damilare
07:15Adenola, said the protest would continue until President Gola Tinubo acceded to their demands.
07:22The protestors said they are demanding the reversal of petrol pump price to 100
07:26nairas per liter and until insecurity, the closing of IDP camps end. Electoral reform,
07:33among other things. Adenola said the various orders of court restricting protesters to
07:38particular locations are an aberration. Our presence here today is an announcement that we
07:44have been oppressed for too long. Today, we have reason. We are saying that unless President Gola
07:50Tinubo acceded to our demands, we will remain on the streets. We want to see the president on the
07:56streets. During the protest, he was on the streets. One of the organizers of the protest, Michael
08:02Lenin, said it would continue on Friday, today, regardless of the intimidation by the security
08:08agencies. He told reporters that the protest will continue. We are not intimidated by what the
08:14security agencies do. This government does not appear like one ready to listen to the citizens
08:20with the way protesters were attacked today. We are resolute. Until he meets our demands,
08:26we will remain on the streets.