BENIN CITY- The Commissioner of police in Edo state, CP Johnson Kokumo has affirmed that peaceful protests is a right of every citizen to register their displeasure, reiterating the EndSARS protests was hijacked by criminal elements.
CP Kokumo stated this last Wednesday, October 28, 2020 while parading 126 suspects involved in offences ranging from arson, looting, robbery, curfew violation, jailbreaks to attempted murder during EndSARS protests.
Kokumo lamented the attacks on police officers and stations, adding the command has mobilised men and resources to dominate public space and ensure peace as well as safety in their areas of authority.
“The EndSARS protests was hijacked by hoodlums, criminal elements who embarked on destruction of properties, arson, breaking and stealing, burglary; some got themselves engaged in total brigandage.
“Peaceful protests is seen as a means of registering meaningful displeasure, but what we’ve seen recently was that EndSARS protests that was hijacked. We have a number of police station razed down, in some instances arms and ammunition carted away, public warehouses were vandalized and looted, individuals were violently attacked for no just course, unprovoked attacks on innocent citizens, unprovoked attacks on policemen who were discharging their statutory duties”, Edo CP told newsmen.
Meanwhile, A 63 years old man, Sunny Airevwolo who was granted bail on Monday after he was arrested last week by security operatives for allegedly breaking into Custom warehouse at Ikpoba Hill, to loot rice was amongst those paraded.
Airevwolo said he was paraded after he reported at the Edo state police command to see the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) who requested his presence.
According to Airevwolo, he was at the command on the instance of the IPO on Tuesday about 8.am, but was let go by 4.30pm due to the 6pm to 6am curfew imposed by the state government, but the IPO again asked him to report back today Wednesday, only to be added to the suspects.
“On 20th October, i go meet my friend make he give me money take buy something. I go he house and I no see am, so as I dey come back na soldiers begin shoot gun. I no know say soldier pursue people come my street, na dem begin drag me, arrest me say I join people to break custom house pack Rice.
“dem free me, granted me bail on Monday na dem say make i come on Tuesday. I ask why, dem say make i just come say nothing. I come in Tuesday around 8, wait till 4.30 na dem say make i go because of curfew, say make i come today. I come na, na my IPO push me to join people wen dem dey parade”, He told journalists in Pigin English.
It could not immediately be ascertained whether he was let go after his parade before journalists.
Meanwhile, other suspects narrated their involvement while some denied the allegations against them.
Among the 126 suspects were some escapees of the two correctional facilities attacked in Benin City by hoodlums during the rampage on Monday, October, 19, 2020.
The police also displayed arms, ammunition, medical consumables and COVID-19 relief materials said to have been recovered from the suspects.
