Nationwide Protest: Only Seven Persons Were Killed, 681 Arrested–NPF Gives Update
An update on incidents recorded in the nationwide protests against economic hardship in the country has been released by the Nigeria Police Force.
The Force Public Relations Officer,
Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a statement on Saturday noted that the ongoing protest has turned violent, and advised law abiding citizens to immediately withdraw from the protest.
Adejobi also dismissed a report by Amnesty International that 13 individuals have so far lost their lives in the ongoing protests, which began on 1st August, 2024.
Negating Amnesty’s report, Adejobi said the total number of deaths recorded so far during the protests is seven and has also arrested a total of 681 individuals alleged to have committed various criminal offenses.
Adding that two AK-47 rifles and assorted live ammunition were recovered from protesters.
The statement also revealed that nine Police officers sustained various degrees of injuries during attacks by protesters.
Adejobi said: “In Borno State, four (4) individuals lost their lives and thirty-four (34) were severely injured in a terrorist attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP elements who infiltrated the crowd of protesters and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
“Additionally, an incident occurred involving an unregistered Honda Prelude car that ran into the protesters, resulting in the deaths of two (2) civilians.”
The police spokesman also said that there was another incident reported in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State where a group of individuals mobilized to loot a shop, leading to a local vigilante man killing one of the looters.
He said there were no other recorded fatalities during the protests apart from those he mentioned.
However, Adejobi explained that incidences of armed robbery, arson, mischief, looting of public institutions and private businesses, destructions of both public and private property were recorded during the protest.
He said arrests were made with respect to the criminal incidences and a number of recoveries made from the suspects while the protest was going on.
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