Nigeria’s Edo state imposes curfew till further notice
Abuja, Monday
Authorities in Nigeria’s southern Edo state have imposed a 24-hour curfew following what it describes as “incidents of vandalism and attacks carried out by hoodlums in the guise of #ENDSARS protesters.”
Huge protests against police brutality continued in the state on Monday with several reports of riots breaking out in different locations and a jailbreak at a detention facility.
Secretary to the state government, Osarodion Ogie, who announced the curfew said it is to take effect from 16:00 Monday until further notice.
“This decision has become necessary because of the very disturbing incidents of vandalism and attacks on private individuals and institutions by hoodlums in the guise of the #ENDSARS protests.
“While the government of Edo State respects the rights of its citizens to undertake legitimate protests, it cannot sit idly when hoodlums have taken laws into their hands to cause mayhem on innocent citizens and the state,” Ogie said.
Earlier on Monday, there were multiple reports of prisoners escaping a correctional facility in the Oko part of the state.
In videos posted on social media, some men can be seen scaling a high barbed-wire fence said to be the prison walls along the Sapele road in Edo state.
Widespread demonstrations continued across several Nigerian cities on Monday as protesters called for an end to police brutality and reforms in the sector.
The protests have continued despite authorities agreeing to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars).
On Sunday, protesters occupied the country’s central bank in the capital Abuja, but reports say they were targeted by armed thugs in the early hours of Monday.
There is also an increased presence of armed army personnel in the capital days after the military offered to step in warning that “subversive elements and trouble makers” were exploiting the situation.
Soldiers have been deployed to the streets of Abuja and stationed in strategic places to arrest the escalating #EndSARS protests.
According to media reports, this development is coming amid protests by Nigerians who have been demanding for an end to police brutality and comprehensive reforms of the Nigerian Police Force.
The protests, which have been ongoing for about two weeks across the country, have in some cases gone out of hand in Abuja with suspected hoodlums attacking #EndSARS protesters as well as pro-SARS groups.
The situation has led to clashes that left several persons injured with vehicles and other property damaged.
There have been reports that a protester, who was stabbed by one of such hoodlums, died in a hospital.
The ongoing EndSars protest against police brutality which has entered the ninth day has adversely affected the Lagos economy.
Especially as efforts are geared towards resuscitating economic activities in the state owing to a long period of economic redundancy due to the pandemic. - Agencies
