• Friday, March 29, 2024
businessday logo

BusinessDay

Two feared dead, many injured as thugs attack EndSARS protesters in Edo

Vote Lagos thugs out on March 18th

Many persons on Friday sustained various degrees of injuries from gunshots and machete cuts during a clash between a group of thugs and some youths protesting against Police brutality in Edo State.

It was gathered that the protesters who besieged the Edo State House of Assembly at king’s Square, to lend their voices to the requests being made by youths across the country, were attacked by the gun-toting and knife-wielding thugs.

Following the attacked, some of the protesters retaliated while others took ran for their dear lives a while those injured were rushed to the nearest hospital.

Efosa Igbinoba, one of the protesters, said continuous police brutality and bad governance in Nigeria motivated them to protest.

“We started the protest from Sapele road but on getting to the ring road, hoodlums just appeared from nowhere with cutlass and guns to attack us with the aim of disrupting the protest.

“Our demands are, don’t end SARS and come with SWAT, police should be reformed as well as reduction of the salary of the members of the House of Representative and the Senate,” he said.

Abere Godswill, one of the injured youths, said he was on his way from the bank when the thugs removed their cutlasses from the vehicle and descended on him thinking he wanted to take a video shot of them.

Read also: Nigerians killed in #EndSARS protests must get justice; Gbajabiamila

“I didn’t join the protest, I was coming from the bank when I met them on the road. Because I hold the phone in my hand, they started beating me saying I wanted to video them. They collected the phone and started hitting me from different angles.

“I am yet to recover the phone. They are in possession of my phone. The make is Tecno Camon 12”, he said.

Earlier, one of the protesters, Dennis Osaretin said they joined the protest to call for a total overhaul of the nation’s security architecture.

“I am here to show solidarity to the Nigerian youths on their recent call for the end of SARS and not just the end of SARS but for a total haul and reform of the Nigeria Police and the entire Nigeria security architecture and to a larger extent, a total reform and overhaul of the Nigerian states because all we are looking for now, is a state that works for all, a state that works for the youth, provides employment, provides safety and security for our people beyond the lips service.

“We have come out here to show that we are tired of the way the country is and we want something for a change at least for once”, he said.

Meanwhile, Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki has tasked the state Police command and other sister agencies to provide adequate security for #EndSARS protesters.

In a statement made available to journalists in Benin City, Obaseki assured the protesters that a thorough investigation would commence soon to arrest the assailants and bring them to book.

“I have just learnt that hoodlums have attacked #ENDSARS protesters, who have conducted themselves peacefully in Benin City. I extend condolences to the victims of the attacks, including those who lost their lives and others who were injured by the thugs.

“It is disheartening that anyone would attack a peaceful assembly of young people who are expressing genuine concerns over police brutality and intimidation in their own country.

“I hereby call on the Edo State Police Command to get out on the streets and provide adequate security for the protesters and ensure that no one is harassed in the course of exercising their rights,” Obaseki said.