One person identified as Osagie Abraham, 32, reportedly sustained a gunshot injury, while several protesters were arrested after a demonstration against kidnapping escalated into violence in Edo State.
Youths and students in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the state, had on Saturday staged a protest over the rising cases of kidnapping in the area.
However, the protest was later hijacked by hoodlums who unleashed violence, vandalised properties and looted shops.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Monday Agbonika, disclosed this in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem.
He said the injured victim is currently receiving treatment at Eromoele Medical Centre, Ekpoma.
According to the police commissioner, security personnel were deployed to strategic locations at the onset of the protest, in collaboration with sister security agencies, to ensure the demonstration remained peaceful, orderly and within the limits of the law.
“Regrettably, the protest was hijacked, and all the rules of peaceful protest were ignored which led to incidents including malicious damages, looting of property, vandalism of shops, as well as military personnel discharging firearms at a protester,” he said.
Agbonika added that the military personnel allegedly involved in the shooting had been identified, noting that the appropriate military authorities had been formally notified for necessary administrative and disciplinary action.
He further stated that several protesters who participated in acts of violence, vandalism and looting have been identified and arrested, as investigations into the incident continue.
