Two persons killed in Edo Protest --- Police

By Editor

Feb 16, 2023

Edo State Police Command on Thursday said two persons were killed at the Wednesday's protest in Benin City against the scarcity and rejection of  new naira notes by commercial banks in the state. 

Dailymonitorngr reports that the command who also said that several suspects have been arrested in connection with the protest added that the suspects would be charged to court immediately in accordance with the law. 

SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the image maker of the command made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City. 

Nwabuzor added that several banks

and private properties were attacked, looted and destroyed by the armed hoodlums who hijacked the protest.

He listed some of the banks attack to include United Bank Africa (UBA), First Bank, Access Bank, Unity Bank, Keystone Bank, Eco Bank, FCMB, Polaris and Zenith Bank among others. 

He also added that properties such as Automated Teller Machines (ATM), windows, generator batteries, and vehicles were vandalized and looted. 

He,however, warned against further acts of violence that may lead to further loss of lives and property in the state. 

According to him, the protest was sparked by the Central Bank Naira redesign policy, which resulted in a large number of youths taking to the streets to demand new Naira notes and the collection of old notes by the banks. 

"Unfortunately, the protest, which was hijacked by armed hoodlums, turned violent when the armed 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 were confirmed dead on arrival to the hospital. 

"The Commissioner Police, while noting that some of the armed hoodlums have been arrested and would be charged to court immediately in accordance with the law, expresses his deepest sympathies to the Commercial Banks whose property was destroyed during the protests",he said. 

He assured that the Police Command and other security services in the state are doing everything possible to bring the perpetrators of the violent acts to justice. 

The command enjoined parents and guardians to caution their wards and children against engaging in acts of violence, as the law will not spare anyone who violates the peace of the state.