We Lost At Least Six Officers To #EndSARS Protest, Says Lagos Police Chief

Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, the Lagos State Police Commissioner in the southwestern part of Nigeria, has disclosed that the command in the state lost at least six officers while more than thirty others were wounded in the recently relaxed #EndSARS protest that rocked Nigeria.

Young Nigerians, it will be recalled, took to the streets in a peaceful protest to demand the proscription of the dreaded and notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which had over the years accounted for the death of so many innocent Nigerians.
In the protest that lasted for more than two weeks in virtually all the major cities in Nigerian, the Nigerian Government allegedly deployed security agencies and also used maximum force against the protesters, leading to the death of some youths around the country, even as thugs hijacked the hitherto peaceful exercise to burn public facilities, including police stations.Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police boss, Odumosu, disclosed the deaths of his men on Tuesday, saying his officers had apprehended 520 suspects in connection with the Policemen’s killing and other criminal acts during the protests.

Addressing journalists at the Police Headquarters, Odumosu also disclosed that 30 police stations and posts were burnt, while 18 police stations and posts were vandalized. The commissioner explained that the 520 suspects were held for various offenses ranging from arson to robbery, murder, rioting, malicious damage, and unlawful possession of firearms.

“The protests which started peacefully turned violent on Monday, October 12, when some criminally-minded hoodlums at the Surulere protest venue cashed-in on the precarious situation. 
“They proceeded to attack the Anti kidnapping Unit’s Office of the Command located at Iyun Road, Western Avenue, Surulere, with premeditated intention to liberate suspected kidnappers detained inside the facility.

“In the process, three of the policemen on duty were shot and critically injured while two suspects were set free,” the Commissioner said. 
Odumosu listed the murdered policemen as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Yard Edward, attached to Denton Station; Inspector Olayinka Erinfolami, attached to the defunct Anti-Kidnapping Unit; Inspector Adegbenro Aderibigbe, attached to Meiran Division; Sergeant Abejide Abiodun, attached to Operations, State Headquarters and two others attached to Orile Police Station. According to him, four civilians also lost their lives during the crises in the state.

He added: “At least 58 police vehicles at various locations within the state were burnt, while 13 police vehicles were vandalized. “Also, 62 vehicles, belonging to individuals and those connected with some pending cases were burnt while nine vehicles were vandalized by the hoodlums. Similarly, 15 motorcycles and tricycles were burnt, while 65 were vandalized at various locations within the state.” Odumosu added that 67 buses at BRT Terminal, Iddo, were burnt.

“Most importantly, 19-year old Olamilekan Ibrahim, who is among those that broke into a new generation bank and carted away cash and other valuables in Lekki, was arrested with N250,000, which is his own share of the loot from the banks, and a locally-made pistol.

“Also, two suspects, Ebere Ruben (29) and Samuel Oyediran (16), were arrested by operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) for their involvement in the burning of the BRT terminal at Berger and TVC Station in Lagos State, respectively, with left-over of some quantities of petroleum products with which they set the places ablaze.”
The police chief said that in the light of the above, it was now a known fact that the protest was hijacked by armed hoodlums who had been responsible for a series of killings, arson, and looting of many shopping outlets in the state.

He said: “Thorough investigation into the cases has commenced. Members of the public should be assured that they will be updated as investigation progresses.”