The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has called for calm and professionalism from the protesters and police personnel respectively as Endsars protest turn violent.
Odumosu, in a statement on Monday 12th October 2020 urged protesters to be peaceful and avoid violent attacks on police personnel or any other security agents.
He also warned them not to harass innocent Lagosians by picketing them to forcefully join the protests; and should avoid blocking access routes or roads for other Nigerians who are as well entitled to their fundamental human rights
The Commissioner of Police was however of the fear that the Endsars protests have been hijacked by some unscrupulous elements, who are fully armed, in Lagos State.
There were reports of heavy shooting today on the side of the Police who were seen on a video which has fone viral firing life ammunition at protesters in Surulere area of Lagos, though figures of casualties were still sketchy as at the time of filling this report.
But the Police claimed that the violence attacks were perpertriated by hoodlums who have hijacked the protest.
He states, “Today, being 12th October, 2020, at about 1pm, some armed protesters laid siege on the Anti Kidnapping Unit Office of the command, broke into the cell and liberated two of the kidnap cases suspects, before they were tactically and professionally repelled.
“In the process, Inspr Ekei Joshua with AP No 175493, Inspr Peter Agabi with AP No 251138 and Insp Erinfolami Ayodeji with AP No 229241(now late) attached to the Anti Kidnapping Unit of Lagos State Command, located at Iyun Road, Surulere were shot and critically injured; they have been rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
“In addition, the protesters fired and killed one Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo, 55 years, a driver of one Toyota Sienna Bus, with Registration Number LSD 296 FX, who got stuck in the traffic caused by the blockage of the road by the violent protesters, in Surulere today. It is petinent to state that the attacked police inspectors and Mr Ikechukwu Ilohamauzu were hit and injured by pellets reasonably fired from pump actions/locally-made guns. The corpses of the deceased have been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy. “
He however revealed that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident. Odumosu also ordered the Homicide section of the SCID, Yaba, Lagos to carry out thorough investigation into the incidence for further police actions.
