THE Edo State High Court, Criminal Court 2, has ordered the remand of some youths involved in the protest that rocked the Ekpoma area of the state at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre.
News Point Nigeria reports that this followed the plea of the prosecution for a 14-day remand period.
Our correspondent observed that some of the protesters and their relatives, who were present at the court, wailed as those arrested were moved into a waiting vehicle.
Some of the protesters and their relatives, who were present at the court, wailed as those arrested were moved into a waiting vehicle.
Angry youths had last weekend demonstrated against the spate of kidnapping and other forms of insecurity in the town located in the Esan West Local Government Area.
A viral video showed some residents in the Edo Central region of the state protesting the rising kidnappings and killings.
The video also showed some people, suspected to be cattle breeders, fleeing a market upon sighting some protesters.
The police said they had swiftly intervened to restore peace and public safety when the protest was “hijacked”.
In a statement on Sunday, it said that upon the commencement of the protest on Saturday, the Area Commander, Ekpoma, immediately mobilised police personnel in strategic collaboration with sister security agencies to ensure that the protest remained peaceful, orderly, and within the confines 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, vandalisation of shops, as well as a military personnel discharging firearms at a protester,” the statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, partly read.
In response to the sudden escalation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, promptly led additional tactical reinforcements from the State Command Headquarters, Benin to Ekpoma to reinforce operational control, restore public order, and prevent further degeneration of the situation.
It said that through coordinated deployments, strategic positioning of personnel, and professional crowd control measures, normalcy was swiftly restored across the affected areas.
The police also stated that those who engaged in acts of “violence, vandalism, and looting” were identified and arrested, while thorough investigations were ongoing to ensure that all culpable persons were brought to justice.
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, visited a man identified as 32-year-old Osagie Abraham, who was shot during the protest, and is presently receiving medical attention at a medical centre in Ekpoma.
“He has ordered the immediate and thorough investigation of the incident.
“Meanwhile, the military personnel involved in the shooting incident has been identified, while the appropriate military authorities have been formally notified for necessary administrative and disciplinary action in line with established protocols.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, reiterates that it is the constitutional right of citizens to engage in lawful protest and freely express their grievances.
“However, such protests must always be conducted peacefully, responsibly, and without infringing on the rights, safety, and property of other members of the public,” it added.