How five people lost their lives in Abuja

The #EndSARS protest turned bloody at Dutse Alhaji area of Bwari Area Council in FCT as five people reportedly lost their lives following the injuries they sustained from gunshots.

While some people alleged that the deceased were killed by the police, the FCT Command of the Nigeria Police Force denied the allegation, saying they only restored peace in the area.

Soon after the killing, the police post at Dutsen Makaranta was set ablaze by rampaging protesters while several vehicles were also burnt.

An eye witness told Daily Trust that the protest, which started at about 8 am, was initially peaceful until the arrival of a team of police personnel in four trucks.

“Immediately the police arrived they started shooting at the protesters, leading to the killing of the five victims.

“This development sparked outrage by the other protesting youths who went and set the Police Post at Dutsen Makaranta on fire even as several commuting vehicles were also burnt,” the witness said.

He said after the shooting, the police immediately left the scene while corpses of the victims were evacuated to the Bwari General Hospital.

However, in a statement yesterday, the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, ASP Maryam Yusuf, described the claim that their operatives killed protesters at Dutsen Makaranta as malicious and mischievous.

She said the FCT police command professionally succeeded in restoring calm at the area during a violent clash that ensued between the #EndSARS and #PRoSARS protesters.

“During the unfortunate incident, the protesters suddenly went berserk, leaving two persons dead and one injured,” she said

In Apo District of Abuja, the escalating situation had taken religious and ethnic dimensions.

Sources said places of worship had been set on fire while residents had resorted to self- defence as there was no security presence in the area.

Daily Trust learnt that a mosque was burnt down in the Pigba Sama area of Apo, while a church in the Waru area was also set on fire.

On Monday, the crisis in Apo resulted in the burning of many cars and shops while many people sustained injuries.

Youth Leader of Apo, Daniel Vudabo, said the attacks on the protesters turned into ethno-religious crisis in which churches and mosques were burnt.

He said troops had been deployed to restore peace but expressed misgivings that authorities did not act on time as according to him “monumental destruction of lives and property was incurred before security was deployed.”