Dr Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police has said that a police operative was killed and several others injured during the #EndBadGovernance protests across Nigeria on Thursday.
While addressing newsmen in Abuja, he noted that rioters disguised as protesters attacked police officers and destroyed stations.
Mr Egbetokun revealed that other officers were injured by individuals who had infiltrated the protests posing as demonstrators.
He reported that several police stations were set ablaze by the rioters, who he described as engaging in widespread looting rather than peaceful protest.
The police Chief criticized the absence of the protest leaders, claiming their nonattendance allowed criminal elements to dominate the events.
“Police stations have been destroyed, and there have been attempts to take over government buildings,” Egbetokun said. He also reported extensive looting of both public and private properties.
“The violence was not limited to Abuja, with incidents reported in various regions including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe. “We recorded incidents of unprovoked attacks on our security personnel, resulting in one fatality and serious injuries to others,” the IGP stated.
In response to the escalating violence, the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units on red alert.
Egbetokun assured that officers are fully mobilized and ready to act swiftly to maintain public order and safety.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which began on August 1, 2024, turned violent in several states including Kano, Borno, Yobe, and Nasarawa, as well as the capital city of Abuja.
Rioters burned vehicles and looted warehouses and private stores. The police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, a development which have been condemned by civil society organizations.
The protests is being fueled by the rising costs of food and basic commodities due to Nigeria’s severe inflation and economic crisis.
Also, many have attributed it to the government’s recent policies on petrol subsidy removal and forex unification.
Authorities, including the police, military, and Department of State Services, had warned against the protests, fearing a repeat of the 2020 EndSARS demonstrations.
Despite appeals from politicians urging youths to abandon the protests, the demonstrators remain resolute.
