….Two people died, several injured.
…Abia State Government Declares 24hrs Curfew in Aba and Umuahia
The End SARS protests today in Aba, the commercial city of Abia State turned chaos as thugs high jacked the protest, engaged in scuffles and burnt down a Police Station.
While the story is still sketchy, but AbaCityBlog correspondent gathered that Aba Zone 6 Police Station located in Umuoba road axis of Ogbor Hill, Aba was completely burnt down.
The incident, according to reports said the youths became violent after one of the security operatives used live ammunition on the protesters who insisted that they were not going to discontinue the protest.
A protester told AbaCityBlog that the police “are the ones who first opened fire on us, some of us runaway”, while some people engaged the police officers and overpowered them. According to the protester who gave his name as ‘Ugo’, stray bullet from the gunshot hit about two protesters which angered the crowd mixed with some unidentified thugs and a police officer was hit in the process.
Unconfirmed reports have it that a police officer whose identity was yet-to-be-ascertained reportedly lost his life in the process as some of the youths were said to have sustained bullet injuries.
Sources in the area stated that at the last count, over fifteen persons with bullet wounds were reportedly taken to a missionary hospital located in the area for emergency treatment.
#EndSARS protest in Aba today was highjacked by hoodlums as it turns bloody as Police opens fire on protesters. pic.twitter.com/dUXvqzQUh8
— CityBlog (@abacityblog) October 20, 2020
Watch video of the protest before the clash HERE
Also attacked is another police station; Eziama Police Division located near the popular Bata junction along Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway.
It was learnt that the angry youths carted away valuable materials from the popular zone 6 Police Station housing the Dragon Unit of the force under Abia State Command.
Abia State Government Declares 24hrs Curfew in Aba and Umuahia
The Abia State Government has imposed a 24hrs curfew in Aba and Umuahia. The announcement comes on the heels of the clash between some unidentified thugs who high jacked #EndSARS protest and attacked some police officers which led to the burning of Zone 6 Police Station in Aba.
In a statement signed by the State commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, said Governor Ikpeazu has no other option than to imposed curfew to ensure no more breakdown of laws.
“To ensure the continued security of lives and property of law abiding citizens, the Governor has also directed the imposition of a 24-hour curfew on Aba and Umuahia from 6pm today till further notice.
“Furthermore, Governor Ikpeazu has approved a cash reward of Five Million Naira Only (N5, 000,000.00) to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of the hoodlums and armed cultists.
“This is in addition to the approval of a reward of One Million Naira Only (N1,000,000.00) for each authentic video evidence on brutality and extrajudicial killings by security agents in the state submitted to the Judicial Panel of Inquiry being inaugurated to investigate the incidents.
“Parents and guardians are strongly advised to monitor the activities of their children and wards to ensure that they are not engaged in nefarious activities, predispose themselves to harm or allow themselves to be used to cause mayhem in the State,” parts of the statement said.
