The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has called for the end of the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests as a policeman was murdered while on duty on Thursday.
Egbetokun disclosed this while briefing reporters in Abuja, stating that some of his men were injured by hoodlums who disguised as protesters.
The police boss also said some police stations in the country were razed by rampaging rioters.
He lamented that events in major cities on Thursday were “mass uprising and looting, not protests”.
“Police stations have been destroyed. There have been attempts to take over government houses,” Egbetokun said, adding that looting of public and private warehouses and facilities was widespread.
“In places like FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, among others, we recorded incidents of unprovoked attacks on our security personnel where one policeman has been reported murdered and others seriously injured.
“In light of the current situation, the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units on red alert. Our officers are fully mobilised and prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to public safety and order,” the IGP said.
The #EndBadGovernance protests turned violent in Kano, Borno, Yobe and Nasarawa states, among other 32 states of the Federation as well as the nation’s capital where rampaging hoodlums burned vehicles and looted warehouses and private stores.
Policemen were seen dispersing protesters using tear gas, even as civil society organisations condemned the action of the police. Curfews have been imposed in Kano, Borno, Yobe and Nasarawa states.
