Law & JusticeNewsNigeriaEnd SARS Movement: Police Stations Burnt in Nnewi, Anambra State

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NNEWI–The provocation aroused by shooting unarmed, peaceful protesters at Lekki Toll Plaza on Tuesday night, has radicalized the once peaceful end SARS protest nationwide, with several government properties and assets burnt to the ground in Lagos and elsewhere.

In Anambra state, last night there was candle light memorial for those extra-judicially executed by police authorities as well as those killed the night before, at Lekki Toll Plaza. In Awka the Anambra state capital, the candle light memorial was peaceful and sober. But in Nnewi, a major economic hub in Anambra state where there has been several reports of police anti-cult invasion of homes at the dead of the night and arrest of alleged cult members who are then tortured and made to part with substantial amount before their release; it was different.

@ENDSARS protesters in Nnewi, Anambra

 

What initially started at Nnewi roundabout, precisely at Izuchukwu park with a bonfire and candle lights, spontaneous music in remembrance of victims of SARS and police brutality at about 9 pm in the evening, later between 11 pm and 12 am this morning, resulted to raw anger and a match to the Nnewi Central Police Station which is located just after the Nnewi North Local Government secretariat and the police station was burnt to the ground.

According to an eye witness, there were gunshots coming from the station but the police officers quickly took to their hill. It remains unclear what happened to people in the police cell, as we could not ascertain if efforts were made to rescue them or release them, or what happened to weapons that are usually kept in police stations. We also gathered that many of the angry mob were naked, some half naked and they were between three hundred and five hundred in number, both men and women.

Minutes after the Nnewi Central Police Station was razed, the mob quickly moved to the Nnewi Area Command, which is not too far away from the Central Police Station and swiftly set it ablaze. Again, sounds of gunshot were heard by nearby residents. But, it is not clear what happened to people who are possibly in their cell.

Reacting to the development, a popular Nnewi youth expressed shocked and amazement at the turn of events, even as he wondered what was really happening. “I have never seen this type of thing before. People are angry. Very angry. I could not also recognize any of them. To be honest with you, it is even dangerous to try to tell them to wait. They can just mob you immediately”, said Chizzy.

Perhaps, what started as a peaceful protest and legitimate demand by citizens, will now gradually emerge as a revolution of some sort. As government and beneficiary of state power remain confused and utterly bewildered over the developments, one thing is certain; young people in Nigeria will no longer accept the status quo and the Lekki massacre served only a recipe for expression of age-long bottled up anger and frustration.

Ebuka Onyekwelu (Staff Writer)
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