The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday, October 27th, 2020 paraded five hundred and twenty (520) suspects for various offences ranging from Arson, Robbery, Murder, Rioting, Malicious Damage, and Unlawful Possession of Fire Arms.
The State Police Commissioner, CP Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu, psc while addressing journalists on the development on the ENDSARS Protest/Civil Unrest in the state, said;
“Gentlemen of the press, you will recall that the agitation against the excessiveness of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Police Brutality, Extortion, Harassment etc, was brought to fore on social media and physically manifested on the 8th October, 2020, when some groups of individuals protested peacefully to the Police Command Headquarters GRA Ikeja. The protesters, who were peaceful, presented a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, through the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, to register their grievances for necessary attention and action of the Inspector-General of Police. The letter was same day endorsed to the Force Headquarters Abuja.
In acceding to what seemed to be the major demand of the protesters, on Sunday, 11th October, 2020, the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) across all the state Police Commands and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was announced by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, NPM, mni.
Accordingly, the structures of the defunct SARS and other tactical units in Lagos State were immediately collapsed and the operatives were assembled and addressed by the Commissioner of Police on the expectations and directives of the IGP following the disbandment of the Units.
However, in a swift turn of event, another dimension of the protest rolled in when the hitherto peaceful protest in the state turned violent on Monday, 12th October, 2020, when some criminally-minded hoodlums at the Surulere protest venue cashed-in on the precarious situation and proceeded to attack the Anti-Kidnapping Unit’s Office of the Command located at Iyun Road, Western Avenue, Surulere, with premeditated intention to liberate the suspected kidnappers detained in the facility. In the process, three (3) of the policemen on duty were shot and critically injured while two (2) suspects were set free. One out of the injured policemen, Inspector Erinfolamin Ayodeji, with one male civilian passerby, Mr Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo, who were hit by a stray bullet, was later confirmed dead in the hospital.
Again, on Monday, 19th October, 2020, a detachment of the Command’s Rapid Response Squad were attacked by violent protesters with bottles, stones and cudgels at Adekunle Area of Yaba while being conveyed in four (4) RRS personnel carrier trucks to their various duty posts. Nineteen (19) of the RRS personnel sustained varying degrees of injuries in the attack while the vehicles were badly damaged. By this time, it was crystal clear that the peaceful protest had been hijacked by hoodlums.
Gentlemen of the press, during the recent endsars protest/civil unrest the following cases/incidences were recorded:
1. Police Stations/Formations Burnt: Sixteen (16) Police Stations were set ablaze during the unrest. They included Orile, Amukoko, Layeni, Old Area J Command Ajah, Elemoro, New Area J Command Elemoro, Igando, Ebute-Ero, Ajah and its barracks and Ilasamaja Police Stations. Others were Makinde and its barracks, Ikotun, Isokoko, Pen-Cinema, Onipanu, Alade Police Stations, etc.
2. Police Stations/Formations Vandalised: Thirteen (13) formations were vandalised amongst which were Ojo and Ojodu Stations.
3. Police Posts Burnt: The following police posts were burnt: Cele, Ilogbo-Elerin, Shibiri, Defunct Anti-Cultism office, Gbagada, Defunct SARS Office Onilekere, Makoko, Daleko, Ashamu, Makinyo, Amuwo-Odofin, Defunct Anti-Kidnapping Office, Surulere and Old SARS Office Ajegunle.
4. Police Posts Vandalised: During the unrest, the police posts that were vandalised by the hoodlums included PPL, Mowo, Morogbo, Ikota and Mawa police posts.
5. Police Personnel Killed: Six (6) police personnel were gruesomely murdered during the unrest. They were: ASP YARD EDWARD, attached to Denton Station, INSP OLAYINKA ERINFOLAMI, attached to the defunct Anti Kidnapping Unit, INSP ADEGBENRO ADERIBIGBE, attached to Meiran Division, Sergeant Abejide Abiodun, attacked to DOPS SHQ, and two (2) others attached to Orile Division
6. Civilians Killed: Four (4) civilians lost their lives during the crises.
7. Policemen Injured: Thirty Eight (38) policemen from various formations/locations within the state were injured.
8. Police Vehicles Burnt: Fifty Eight (58) police vehicles at various locations within the state were burnt.
9. Police Vehicles Vandalised: Thirteen (13) police vehicles were vandalised.
10.Private/Exhibit Vehicles Burnt/Vandalised: Sixty Two (62) vehicles belonging to individuals and those connected with some pending cases (exhibits) were burnt while nine (9) vehicles were vandalised by the hoodlums.
11. Motorcycles/Tricycles: Fifteen (15) motorcycles and tricycles were burnt, while Sixty Five (65) were vandalised at various locations within the state.
12. Government/Public Facilities Burnt/Vandalised: the following are the public facilities set ablaze while some were partly torched: High Court Complex Igbosere, Lagos Island, Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, broad street, Lagos island Lagos, Ejigbo LCDA Secretariat, BRT Terminal Iddo (where Sixty Seven (67) buses were burnt), City Hall, Lagos Island, COVID-19 Warehouse at Monkey Village, BRT Terminals at Ojodu and Ikotun, Ajeromi Ifelodun LG Secretariat NPA Head Office, Marina, FRSC/VIO Office at Ojodu where only the vehicles parked outside the main buildings within their compounds were burnt.
13. Private Facilities Vandalised: Some private facilities as well as other investments that were partly torched and vandalised/looted included: The Oba of Lagos’s palace, Television Continental Station at IkosiKetu, Access Bank, GTBank and Ebeano Supermarket at Victoria Island, the Nation Newspaper office at Fatai Atere Street, Matori, Mushin, where only vehicles were burnt, Shoprite Malls at Ajah, LTV 8, Alausa, Ikeja, Surulere, Samsung Outlet at Apo R/About, Festac, Shoprite at Festac, Samsung Office Oyingbo, etc.
However, some of the looted items from these outlets/offices have been recovered. Based on these incidences, the command was able to arrest a total of Five Hundred and Twenty (520) suspects for various offences ranging from Arson, Robbery, Murder, Rioting, Malicious Damage, and Unlawful Possession of Fire Arms.
More importantly, one OLAMILEKAN IBRAHIM, “m, 19, one of those who broke into a new generation bank and carted away cash and other valuables in Lekki was arrested with N250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira only) which is his own share of the loot from the banks, and a locally-made pistol. Also, two (2) suspects EBERE RUBEN, 29 years, and SAMUEL OYEDIRAN, 16 years, were arrested by RRS operatives for their involvement in burning of the BRT terminal at Berger and TVC Station in Lagos State, respectively, with left-over of some quantities of Petroleum products with which they set the places ablaze.
In the light of the above, it is a known fact that the protest was hijacked by armed hoodlums who have been responsible for series of killings, arson and looting of many shopping outlets in the state. Thorough investigation into the cases has commenced. Members of the public should be rest assured that they will be updated as investigation progresses.
Gentlemen of the press, at this juncture, i will like to appreciate officers and men of this command for their doggedness, gallantry and commitment to maintain law and order and restoration of normalcy to the state. Also, I commend the community leaders and stakeholders for their support in this regard, especially on recovery of the looted arms and ammunition and valuables. They have been so helpful. Last but not the least the command appreciatess other sister/security agencies for their support in the struggle for restoration of peace and harmony to the state.
Finally, while I specially appreciate the Governor and the good people of Lagos State for supporting the Police in all ramifications to discharge its duties as expected, permit me to re-assure the good people of Lagos State that we will leave no stone unturned in providing adequate security for all and sundry.
Emphatically, for the ember months, the command has put measures in place to legally deal with the criminals who might want to foment troubles or deprive law-abiding Lagosians of their property.
Once again, thank you.”
