The commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Mohammed A. Dankwara, has warned against acts of violence that may lead to further loss of lives and property in the state. This call is coming on the heels of violent protests that shook Benin City, the state capital, February 15, 2023, which led to the destruction of property by hoodlums and loss of three lives.
The release followed the mass protest that was triggered by the Central Bank Naira redesign policy and difficulty in accessing the new notes, which, resulted in a large number of youths taking to the streets to demand for the new Naira notes and the collection of old notes by the banks.
SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the PPRO, Edo State Command, who signed the CP’s statement stated that, it was unfortunate the protest, which was hijacked by armed hoodlums, turned violent when the hoodlums attempted to attack and gain access into the Benin branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria but Security personnel on duty responded promptly to the hoodlums, and in the process, two of them were hit by stray bullets and confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital.
“The armed hoodlums who capitalized on the protests attacked, looted, and destroyed several banks and private properties in the state capital. Banks such as UBA, First Bank, Access Bank, Unity Bank, Keystone Bank, Eco Bank, FCMB, Polaris and Zenith Bank were affected, and properties such as ATM machines, windows, generator batteries, and vehicles were vandalized and looted,” the CP stated.
The police boss said some of the armed hoodlums have been arrested and would be charged to court immediately in accordance with the law. He expressed his deepest sympathies to the commercial banks, whose properties were destroyed during the protests.
The CP also assured the people of the state that the Police Command, and all the security services are doing everything possible to bring the perpetrators of the violent acts to justice as he advised parents and guardians to caution their children and wards against engaging in acts of violence, as the law will not spare anyone who violates the peace of the state.
