The EndSARS protest turned bloody Monday resulting in the death of a policeman and wounding of two inspectors from Lagos State Police Command in Surulere in the state.
A statement by the spokesperson of the state police command, Muyiwa Adesope, stated that at about 1 p.m, some armed protesters laid siege on the Anti-Kidnapping Unit Office of the command, broke into the cell, and liberated two of the kidnap suspects, before they were tactically and professionally repelled.
”In the process, Inspr Ekei Joshua with AP No 175493, Inspr Peter Agabi with AP No 251138 and Insp Erinfolami Ayodeji with AP No 229241(now late) attached to the Anti Kidnapping Unit of Lagos State Command, located at Iyun Road, Surulere were shot and critically injured; they have been rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
“In addition, the protesters fired and killed one Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo, 55 years, a driver of one Toyota Sienna Bus, with Registration Number LSD 296 FX, who got stuck in the traffic caused by the blockage of the road by the violent protesters, in Surulere today. It is pertinent to state that the attacked police inspectors and Mr Ikechukwu Ilohamauzu were hit and injured by pellets reasonably fired from pump actions/locally-made guns. The corpses of the deceased have been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy, ”the statement read.
Adesope said the state Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has urged the protesters to be peaceful and avoid violent attacks on police personnel or any other security agents.
According to him, the CP warned the protesters not to harass innocent Lagosians by picketing them to forcefully join the protests; and should avoid blocking access routes or roads for other Nigerians who are as well entitled to their fundamental human rights
The police spokesperson added that the Commissioner also appealed to parents and guardians to keep watch on their children and monitor their activities to avoid being mobilized and used for illegal activities in the state.
He confirmed arrest of four suspects in connection with the incident, saying Odumosu has ordered the Homicide section of the SCID, Yaba, Lagos to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident for further police actions.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police has announced that the training of a new police unit which will be replacing the disbanded Special Anti -Robbery Squad (SARS) will commence next week.
The IGP who stated this when Davido visited him in office on Monday, October 12 over the ongoing #ENDSARS protests, said there is need to get a new structure to carry out the duties of the defunct police unit.
Adamu, who pledged to investigate cases of brutality and bring perpetrators to book, revealed that the new unit would be intelligence-driven, properly trained and only act on special occasions that require their attention.
He said “We just disbanded yesterday so protesters should calm down and give us time to fix the problem. The general public will be part of the process of getting a new outfit.
“I’m talking to you so I will keep talking to many others and get civil societies involved and get their input towards the new unit.”
