The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, reported that a policeman was murdered while on duty during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests on Thursday.
The IGP, in a briefing in Abuja, noted that some officers were injured by hoodlums who disguised as protesters. He lamented that events in major cities on Thursday resembled a “mass uprising and looting, not protests.”
Egbetokun detailed that several police stations were razed, and there were attempts to take over government houses. He added that looting of public and private warehouses and facilities was widespread. Incidents of unprovoked attacks on security personnel were recorded in places like FCT, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe, with one policeman reported murdered and others seriously injured.
In response, the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units on red alert, fully mobilizing officers to respond swiftly and decisively to maintain public safety and order.
The #EndBadGovernance protests turned violent in multiple states, including Kano, Borno, Yobe, and Nasarawa, as well as the nation’s capital, where hoodlums burned vehicles and looted warehouses. Policemen were seen dispersing protesters using tear gas, actions condemned by civil society organizations. Curfews have been imposed in the affected states.
The protests, driven by economic hardship, began on August 1, 2024, and are scheduled to continue until August 10. The demonstrations were sparked by rising food prices and economic crises following the government’s removal of petrol subsidies and unification of forex windows. Despite warnings from security agencies and appeals from politicians, the protests have persisted.
