The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has decried the damages caused by hoodlums who hijacked the peaceful #End SARS# protests last month.
Briefing reporters after the meeting with police officers in Lagos, the IG said he was in the state for an assessment of the police assets vandalized after the protest and to commiserate with residents.
He noted that the level of destruction in Lagos was quite enormous compared to what happened in other states adding that the destruction they suffered was uncalled for.
According to him, “my second visit is to see the police stations destroyed are built and the morale of our men in Lagos are boosted. We don’t want them to be demoralised by the event in which they suffered personal attacks.
“Policemen are trained to take such pain, now that they suffered such enormous attacks, they shouldn’t discourage us from performing their constitutional duties.” he said
IG who began his visits from Mankide police division at Oshodi, Orile, Ebute Ero ,and Oba Palace accessed all the the burnt Police station included the barracks.
He reiterated that not only police station were destroyed; alot of government institutions were destroyed, private businesses destroyed even the palace of the traditional ruler, the Oba of Lagos was destroyed.
“So you can see that anytime anybody wants to embark on a peaceful protest, it is very important to set up a protocol in order not to allow miscreants, hoodlums to hijack the protest.
“The moment you allow that, the purpose and intent of the protest would be defeated as Lagos state protest witnessed mourmental destruction. Nobody, no economy, no nation, no state will be able to bear the loss that happened in Lagos, he noted
“Even if we are able to bear it, the process will be long . So we hope in the future when we are going to join peaceful protest, we would observe some protocols so that we don’t experience what we experienced this time around.”
Describing the incident that happened, Chief Femi Akeju Police Public Relations of Oshodi Makinde, PCRC, said he
has not seen this kind of damage in his life. “The hoodlums took advantage of the protest and burnt the place down.
“The hoodlums disgraced the Divisional Police Officer and almost burnt him alive, upon appealing to them they refused. They came with assorted weapons, well armed.
“The residents made all possible efforts but unfortunately the hoodlums were much difficult to stop. We are appealing to the federal government to assist us to rebuild the stations affected in Lagos,” he added.
Prince Adeoye Olumegbon, the younger brother to the Oba of Lagos who spoke to the press at the palace said what happened here is unexpected and the damage were much, even in the north where they are fighting, they have not desecrated the royal palace like this.
“I believed they had no reason to target the palace, the attack on the palace is uncalled for. The hoodlums vandalised everything. They looted everything including electronics. It is only God that saved Kabiyesi. None of the staff was hurt. It wasn’t the original staff of office that was removed, the main staff is still intact.
Explaining the reason the palace was attacked, the Oba first son, Prince Aremo Faud Akinolu said probably the Kabiyesi is very tough that how he is, they are not going to change him.
“My father is a former police boss. He doesn’t tolerate nonsense, probably that is why they can’t stand him. But for them coming to that extent is uncalled for. He is 70 years now and why would these people do this to him I don’t know. He has been very nice to everyone,” he reiterated.
By Ifeoma Ikem