Police stations attacked
The ongoing peaceful protest against Police brutality and good governance in the country may have been hijacked by suspected hoodlums who broke into the Benin Custodial Centre at Sapele Road, Benin causing jailbreak.
The hoodlums’ action on Monday at the facility, popularly called “White House’’ saw many prisoners escaping, though the number could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.
According to agency reports it took the efforts of the prison’s armed guards to quell the riots while some prisoners who fled the centre were caught.
Benin metropolis was on total lockdown as banks, private and government-owned schools were under lock and key following continuous youth protests.
It was reported that all the major roads leading to the city centre were all blocked by the protesting youths.
Some of the youth were seen chanting solidarity songs and playing football, while others were busy cooking on the road.
Mr Osagie Obamogie, one of the protesters who spoke with newsmen said: “We are tired of the hardship, no sector of the economy is working and we can no longer continue like this.
“I graduated since 2012 with no job in sight. I managed to open a barbershop and there is no adequate electricity supply to run it properly.
“They have increased fuel and increased electricity tariff. Everything is on the high side. We are no longer protesting only #EndSARS, it has metamorphosed into #Endbadgovernment”.
Meanwhile, a police statement confirmed attacks on Police Facilities at Ugbekun Police Station, Oba Market Police Station and Idogbo Police Post by “persons posing as #ENDSARS protesters” in Benin, on Monday, 19th October.
According to the statement, “the extent of damage cannot be ascertained at the moment but report indicates that the protesters carted away arms and ammunition from the armoury and freed the suspects in custody before setting some of the facilities ablaze.”
“The Force is doing everything possible at the moment to bring the situation under control, protect lives of innocent citizens and prevent further attacks on any other critical infrastructure in the state.”
“The Force is calling on parents/guardians to prevail on their children/wards to desist from acts of violence under any guise whatsoever.” The statement concluded.
Other reports that the Adekunle/Panti police station at Ebute Metta, Lagos had been attacked and had been set on fire turned out to be false.
- with NAN reports
