IGP puts police on red alert, says officers killed, injured during protest

Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), says a police officer was murdered on Thursday during the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest.

Speaking in Abuja at a briefing, Egbetokun said some police officers were also injured while some stations were razed by hoodlums who disguised as protesters.

“In light of the current situation, the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units on red alert. Our officers are fully mobilised and prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to public safety and order,” the IGP said.

He said the events that took place in major cities were “mass uprising and looting, not protests”.

Egbetokun lamented that the leaders of the protests were not around to lead the rallies despite the initial warnings of the police, noting that hoodlums took over the demonstrations.

“Police stations have been destroyed. There have been attempts to take over government houses,” he said.

“In places like FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, among others, we recorded incidents of unprovoked attacks on our security personnel where one policeman has been reported murdered and others seriously injured.”