The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, has debunked the staged viral video of alleged shooting and killing of some protesters in Ekpoma area on 8th October, 2020.
In a release signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, Chidi Nwabuzor, the Command stated that “on the said date, 8th October, 2020, at 12pm, some suspected hoodlums, under the pretence of the ongoing endsars protests, numbering one hundred, armed with dangerous and offensive weapons, laid siege on the Police Station at Ekpoma.
“They attacked every police personnel on duty, destroyed facilities within the station and attempted to gain entrance into the main offices and armoury of the station before they were tactically and professionally repelled by the police with tear smoke.
“It is pertinent to clarify that no single live ammunition was fired at the protesters let alone injuring or killing two of them as alleged.
“After the riotous protest, which was equally perceived as a planned attack on the station, nineteen (19) of the suspected hired miscreants were arrested while efforts are in top gear for their prosecution accordingly.
“The Command therefore wishes to advise the general public to regard the staged viral video and rumour of killing or attacking protesters in the state as baseless, unfounded, and the handiwork of mischief makers to heat up the state.”
Going further, the command stressed that it “will leave no stone unturned to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the rule of law, ethics and Standard Operating Procedure of the Nigeria Police Force.
“In the light of the above, the Commissioner of Police Edo State hereby appeals to the good people of the state to remain calm and support the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu in his stride to reform and overhaul the policing system in Nigeria.”
