ENDSARS: Force Headquarters Confirms Attacks On Edo Stations, Says Hoodlums Freed Suspects … Arms Carted Away

… Edo Govt Imposes 24-hr Curfew

The Force Headquarters has confirmed an attack on police facilities at Ugbekun Police Station, Oba Market Police Station and Idogbo Police Post by persons it said posed as #ENDSARS protesters in Benin, Edo State, on Monday.

The police confirmed this on Monday in a post on its facebook page.

Videos on social media had earlier on Monday, showed the moment some of the inmates escaped through the fence.

The inmates were said to have been freed by hoodlums, who seized the opportunity of the ongoing #Endsars protests across the country.

The number of the escaped prisoners was unclear as of time of this report.

According to the police, the extent of damage cannot yet be ascertained at the moment but its report indicates that the protesters carted away arms and ammunition from the armoury and freed the suspects in custody before setting some of the facilities ablaze.

The force said: “@policeNG regrettably confirms the unfortunate attacks on Police Facilities – Ugbekun Police Station, Oba Market Police Station and Idogbo Police Post by persons posing as #ENDSARS protesters in Benin, Edo State, today, Monday, 19th October, 2020. The extent of damage cannot be ascertained at the moment but report indicates that the protesters carted away arms and ammunition from the armoury and freed the suspects in custody before setting some of the facilities ablaze.

“The Force is doing everything possible at the moment to bring the situation under control, protect lives of innocent citizens and prevent further attacks on any other critical infrastructure in the state.

“The Force is calling on parents/guardians to prevail on their children/wards to desist from acts of violence under any guise whatsoever.”

In a related development the Edo state government on Monday, imposed a 24-hour curfew across the state.

The imposition of the curfew was as a result of the incidents of vandalism and attacks carried out by hoodlums who hijacked the #ENDSARS protests.

The government in a statement, issued by the secretary to the state government, Osarodion Ogie, said the curfew takes effect from 4:00pm, October 19th till further notice.