Police also said 2 AK-47 rifles and assorted live ammunition were recovered, while nine officers sustained various degrees of injuries
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria Police Force on Saturday dismissed a report by Amnesty International that thirteen individuals have so far lost their lives in the ongoing nationwide protest against economic hardship in the country, insisting only seven people died.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, while releasing an update on incidents recorded so far.
The Police also said a total of 681 individuals alleged to have committed various criminal offenses were arrested.
The security agency went on to say two AK-47 rifles and assorted live ammunition were recovered from protesters, while nine Police officers sustained various degrees of injuries during attacks by protesters.
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Giving a breakdown of incidents from the first two days of the nationwide protests, Adejobi said: “In Borno State, four (4) individuals lost their lives and thirty-four (34) were severely injured in a terrorist attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP elements who infiltrated the crowd of protesters and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
“Additionally, an incident occurred involving an unregistered Honda Prelude car that ran into the protesters, resulting in the deaths of two (2) civilians.”
The police spokesman also said that there was another incident reported in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State where a group of individuals mobilized to loot a shop, leading to a local vigilante man killing one of the looters.
He said there were no other recorded fatalities during the protests apart from those he mentioned.
However, Adejobi explained that incidences of armed robbery, arson, mischief, looting of public institutions and private businesses, destructions of both public and private property were recorded during the protest.
He said arrests were made with respect to the criminal incidences and a number of recoveries made from the suspects while the protest was going on.
The Police further warned that the ongoing protest has turned violent, and advised law abiding citizens to immediately withdraw from it.