The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, reported that a policeman was killed while on duty during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests on Thursday.
At a briefing in Abuja, Egbetokun stated that some officers were injured by hoodlums posing as protesters. He also mentioned that several police stations were set ablaze by rioters. The police chief described the events in major cities as a “mass uprising and looting, not protests.” He claimed that protest leaders were absent despite initial police warnings, allowing hoodlums to hijack the demonstrations.
“Police stations have been destroyed, and there have been attempts to take over government buildings,” Egbetokun said. “Looting of public and private warehouses and facilities was widespread.”
He noted that in areas like the FCT, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe, police faced unprovoked attacks, resulting in one officer’s death and serious injuries to others. In response to the situation, the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units on high alert, with officers fully mobilized to maintain public safety and order.
Protests Turn Violent
The #EndBadGovernance protests turned violent in several states, including Kano, Borno, Yobe, and Nasarawa, as well as in the nation’s capital. Hoodlums burned vehicles and looted warehouses and private stores. In response, police used tear gas to disperse the crowds, which civil society organizations criticized. Curfews have been imposed in the affected states.
The protests, which began on August 1, 2024, and are scheduled to continue until August 10, were sparked by widespread economic hardship. Rising prices of food and basic commodities, driven by high inflation and economic crises resulting from the government’s removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of forex windows, have fueled public discontent.
The police, military, and Department of State Services had warned against protests resembling those in Kenya. Despite appeals from politicians concerned about a repeat of the October 2020 EndSARS demonstrations, young protesters have remained resolute.