Police warn against violent protests
SECURITY agencies deployed to quell the violent-turn mass protest called by the organised labour against removal of fuel subsidy in Edo, were said to have recovered some amounts of money running into millions of Naira looted from business centres including bureaux de change in parts of Benin City, the state capital.
Also, at least 50 suspected hoodlums have been arrested in connection with the violence, The Guardian gathered.
Meanwhile, the police have said that they would no longer tolerate violent protests. The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Administration, Mr. Azubuko Udah stated this yesterday after his meeting with about 10 commissioners of police and the Assistant Inspector General in charge of Zone 2, Lagos, Mr. Chris Ola to assess the situation so far and to chart a new course.
In a related development, the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Justice, Hamad Ali has said that over nine Nigerians have lost their lives in the on going protests over the removal of fuel subsidy.
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, David Omajola confirmed that some amounts of money were recovered from suspected hoodlums but said that his office was not handling the matter.
It was further gathered yesterday that some persons were allegedly arrested in Port Harcourt in possession of foreign currencies, jewelry and other valuables suspected to have been looted from Benin City.
The recovery of the money is coming on the heels of condemnation of the violent dimension the protests have taken in the state by Senator Ehigie Uzamere representing Edo South Senatorial District, who urged security agents to arrest and prosecute those behind the dastardly act.
He spoke during a visit to Arewa communities in Benin City and also frowned at media reports (not The Guardian), that mosques were burnt down in the state, saying that the rumour was being peddled by mischiefmakers who were bent on creating "unnecessary tension in the state."
The DIG who was deployed to monitor Labour and civil society protests in the South West said he was happy by the conduct of policemen so far, urging them to remain unprovoked by the actions of protesters and follow their rules of engagement to the letters.
According to him, "Those criminals who loot and maim innocent Nigerians are definitely not from Labour and the civil society. They only want to take advantage of the situation to perpetrate evil and we will not accept it. We have appraised the situation and we want to do our job with minimum blame this period. We don't want a situation where there will be a complete breakdown of law and order. I want to call on NLC, TUC and civil society organisations to call their people to order. Using petrol to burn tyres on the highways is not acceptable, they are damaging the roads and we won't accept that."
He assured that the police would prosecute the killer Chief Superintendent of Police, Segun Fabunmi, who allegedly shot a protester at Ogba area of Lagos.
The Guardian