Ughelli: #ENDSARS Protesters Are Hoodlums Sponsored By ‘Yahoo Boys’—Delta CP

By Daniel Dafe
The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa, mni has described the #Endsars protests in Ughelli that resulted in the death of a policeman and another injured with several police vehicles destroyed as “provocative, cruel and unwarranted,” saying that “the Command will no longer tolerate any attack on its personnel by any individual or group protesting under any guise.”

In a press statement, the police boss while admitting that protests by citizens remain a legitimate means for airing their concerns and views, said that “it must be carried out with all sense of responsibility and within the ambit of the law,” as he said that “the protests was by hoodlums sponsored by internet fraudsters (popularly called YAHOO BOYS).”

The statement added: “Henceforth, any violent protest and attack on policemen will be viewed seriously and resisted with minimum force. The convener or organizer of such a protest will be held liable and made to face the full wrath of the law along with any other person(s) connected with the protest.”

He called on Deltans to exercise restraint and be patient with the ongoing reforms on SARS already initiated by the Inspector General of Police to curb the excesses of the unit with a view to meet the yearnings and aspirations of members of the public.

The CP however reassured residents in the state that the Command will continue to comply with the directives of the Inspector General of Police to avoid any violation of the rights of the citizens and bridge the gap between the police and members of the public.

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CP Inuwa while condoling with the family and friends of late Corporal Etaga Stanley commended the officers and men of the Command “for exercising restraint in the face of the immoral and unjustified provocation,” assuring that “the perpetrators/collaborators of these dastardly acts will soon be brought to book.”

According to the police in the state, one police man was murdered, another injured and one AK 47 rifle with 25 rounds of ammunition was stolen, adding that the violent protesters also vandalized police patrol vehicles.

Narrating what happened on the 8th of October, the Command said “Several patrol teams were deployed to Otovwodo junction in Ughelli to prevent breakdown of law and order and allow free movement of law abiding citizens/ traffic but came under attack that left one Corporal Etaga Stanley attached to ‘A’ division Ughelli who was attacked and killed and his service Rifle AK 47 with 25 rounds of Ammunition stolen.”

“One Sergeant Patrick Okuone attached to Eagle-net squad and police patrol vehicles were damaged as a result of gunshot targeted at the police men by the protesters,” the Command said.

The police arrested nine suspects from the scene of the protests, impounded seven vehicles and six mobile phones belonging to some of the protesters.