*Ikpeazu imposes 24 hours curfew
The #EndSARS protests that have raged across the country for days, took a dangerous dimension in Aba, Abia State yesterday as protesters killed a policeman and burnt a police station.
Following the development, Gov.Okezie Ikpeazu has imposed a 24 hours curfew in the state.
The protest which saw thousands of youths the streets of Aba, came barely 24 hours a similar protest took place in Umuahia, with some renowned musical and Nollywood actors joining to lend their voices to the #EndSARS call.
The protest took off from the Ariaria end of Faulks road through Okigwe and Azikiwe roads with the protesters bearing placards with several inscriptions calling for an end to police brutality and demand for a new and better Nigeria and among other things, was peaceful until it got to the Ogbor Hill area of the city.
The hitherto peaceful protest, turned violent when the protesters burnt a police station housing the Dragon unit of the State police command and reportedly killing a policeman.
Information had it that when the protesters got to the Aba area command, they were addressed by some senior police officers and they left to Eziama police station, where they were equally addressed by some officers.
However, it was gathered that when the protesters got to Dragon Squad, policemen shot in the air to scare the protesters and this was said to have angered the protesting youths who then burnt the station popularly known as Zone 6.
Two policemen were said to have been killed in the process. A policeman who escaped the ire of the protesters by whiskers, said; “I was in the office when I heard noise from the protesters and rushed outside to know what the matter was all about. Before you could know what was happening, everywhere was on fire and two of my colleagues died in the melee”.
The protesters after setting the police station ablaze, blocked the Aba/Ikot Ekpene Highway,causing gridlock in most parts of the city as traffic moved at snail pace, with commuters and other road users stranded.
Some of the protesters said they were not going to bow to any pressure from both the state and federal government until the government and those at the helm of affairs in the military and police do the right thing.
Following the killing of a policemen and carting away of his arms and ammunition by yet to be identified hoodlums numbering over 30, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has imposed a 24 hours curfew in the state.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, the government said; “After detailed review and assessment of the general security situation, including reports of armed cultists and hoodlums sneaking into the state from different parts of the country in large numbers, the burning down of at least two police stations, reported killing of two policemen in the last two days as well as leaked plans to unleash more violence on innocent citizens, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has directed security agents to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of the hoodlums, pursue a swift and complete recovery of the stolen arms and ammunition with the necessary vigour, and ensure the cultists are comprehensively flushed out.
“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.”
