Suspected hoodlums have burnt down Ugbekun police station in Benin, capital of Edo state, just as some young persons are trying to enforce a jailbreak at Oko Prison, still in the capital of Edo state.
A witness said that the crowd outside the prison located on airport road in the city is increasing by the minute, raising fear that the suspects might gain entrance into the prison.
A resident, who witnessed the jailbreak at the prison on Sapele Road in Benin told TheCable that during the attack, he heard some of the suspects speaking on storming another prison.
“When they (hoodlums) invaded the prison on Sapele Road, I heard the crowd shouting let’s move to Oko Prison. I thought they were joking,” he said.
In a series of tweets on Monday, the police said persons posing as #EndSARS protesters attacked three police stations in the state.
“@policeNG regrettably confirms the unfortunate attacks on Police Facilities – Ugbekun Police Station, Oba Market Police Station and Idogbo Police Post by persons posing as #ENDSARS protesters in Benin, Edo State, today, Monday, 19th October, 2020,” one of the tweets read.
“The extent of damage cannot be ascertained at the moment but report indicates that the protesters carted away arms and ammunition from the armoury and freed the suspects in custody before setting some of the facilities ablaze.
“The force is doing everything possible at the moment to bring the situation under control, protect lives of innocent citizens and prevent further attacks on any other critical infrastructure in the state.
“The Force is calling on parents/guardians to prevail on their children/wards to desist from acts of violence under any guise whatsoever.”
The Force is calling on parents/guardians to prevail on their children/wards to desist from acts of violence under any guise whatsoever.
The Force is doing everything possible at the moment to bring the situation under control, protect lives of innocent citizens and prevent further attacks on any other critical infrastructure in the state.
After the wave of violence on Monday, the Edo state government declared a 24-hour curfew.
