August 1st Hunger Protests:One Police Officer Killed, Many Officers Injured During Protests Says IGP Egbetokun,Puts Nigeria Police on Red Alert

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has announced that a police officer was killed while on duty during #EndBadGovernance protests nationwide on Thursday while many men of the Nigeria police force sustained injuries from attacks by raging protesters.

Egbetokun described the events in major cities across the country on Thursday as "mass uprisings and looting, not protests."

OPEN TELEVISION Naija reports that during a briefing in Abuja, the Inspector General of Police, Egbetokun revealed that several police officers were injured by individuals posing as protesters. 

Egbetokun reported that rioters had burned down multiple police stations across the country. 

The Police Boss noted with deep sense of concern that many of the protest leaders were notably absent despite police warnings, allowing hoodlums to hijack the demonstrations.

Egbetokun stated, "Police stations have been destroyed. There have been attempts to take over Government houses," adding that extensive looting of public and private warehouses and facilities had occurred."

OPEN TELEVISION Naija gathered that in places such as the FCT, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe, there were reports of unprovoked attacks on security personnel, resulting in one policeman's death and several serious injuries.

In response to the situation, the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units on high alert, with officers fully mobilized and ready to ensure public safety and order.

Meanwhile, there has been unconfirmed situation reports on the degree of destructions suffered by the country during the August 1st day, first day of the #EndBadGovernance Protests in Nigeria.

OPEN TELEVISION Naija recalls that the hunger protests was launched on social media by some groups with a prior announcement of its take off from August 1st to August 10th, 2024. Although efforts were made by government and many stake holders in the Nigerian project to appeal to the protesters to change their minds and Shelve the planned protests,the protests began on Thursday August 1, 2024 with the protesters threatening to continue the protests daily till August 10.

Situation reports from multiple monitored sources have it that although the protests were peaceful in some states and parts of the country, pockets of acts of arson, wanton destruction of public property, looting and opportunistic crimes marred the first day of the nationwide protests.

The #EndBadGovernance protests erupted into violence in multiple states, including Kano, Borno, Yobe, and Nasarawa, as well as the Federal  Capital Territory, Abuja.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has been reported to have responded by using tear gas to disperse protesters, drawing condemnation from civil society organizations.

Sequel to the violent development and Unrest occasioned by the protests, some states have imposed  curfews.

OPEN TELEVISION Naija remains committed to giving updates and balanced reports on the developments around the hunger cum #endbadgovernance demonstrations obviously being fueled by harsh socio-economic conditions, untamed inflations, food  linsecurity and the Government's policies on petrol subsidy removal and forex unification.