#EndSARS: Abuja protester dies from stab injury
One of the #EndSARS protesters, Anthony Onome, who was allegedly stabbed and injured on Sunday in Kubwa, Abuja, has died.
The death of Onome was announced via a tweet by Aisha Yesufu yesterday, stating that before his demise, he was stabbed multiple times.
Yesufu tweeted that, “Anthony Onome, before his demise, was stabbed multiple times during the Kubwa protest yesterday in Abuja and today his sister confirmed he didn’t make it.”
As a result, #Anthony Onome was among the trending topics on twitter in Nigeria, with videos of his body covered in blood garnering over 1,700 views.
The video viewed by our correspondent shows Onome with blood on his face down to his torso, holding his shirt and wobbling in what appeared to be an escape from attackers. Also, someone behind the camera could be heard consoling him.
However, some commenters have pointed out that his life could have been saved if the person behind the camera had acted.
One commenter said, “That person telling him, ‘Sorry, are you okay?’ Was that a needful thing to do, you are taking a video and saying sorry.”
Another was of the opinion that if he was rushed to hospital and the person doing the video applied pressure on the area bleeding the story would have been different, and added that, “We need to start shouting to people to help and stop rushing to do video, they need orientation.”
“This is not fair. There would have been a greater chance of him surviving if only the energy used in making the video was invested in rushing him to the hospital. Technology has blinded us,” another lamented.
Daily Trust reports that hoodlums have been on the rampage, attacking protesters in some cities, using dangerous weapons.
Some reports also alleged that the attacks were carried out in the presence of police who watched without intervening.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police of the FCT, Bala Ciroma, has condemned the violent attack on the protester by hoodlums in Kubwa.
In a statement, the FCT Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Mariam Yusuf, said: “The hoodlums who infiltrated the ranks of the EndSARS protest attacked one Anthony Onome Unuode ‘m’ and left him with various degrees of injury which eventually resulted in death.
“While urging protesters to be lawabiding, remain peaceful in their conduct and shun all forms of violence, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, Bala Ciroma, wishes to reassure residents of his unflinching commitment to the protection of lives and property within the FCT.”
Ciroma also called for calm among protesters, following a clash between the #EndSARS and pro-SARS protesters at the Central Business District in the early hours of Monday, October, 19, 2020.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that no life was lost, however, one vehicle was set ablaze during the clash. In view of this, the Commissioner of Police has ordered a discreet investigation,” the statement further read.