Police: Officer reported dead survived miraculously | 618 suspects arrested during protest
A police officer who was reportedly killed on Thursday during the #EndbadGovernance protest has “miraculously survived”, the police said.
On Thursday, Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), said an officer was killed while on duty during the nationwide protest.
“In places like FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, among others, we recorded incidents of unprovoked attacks on our security personnel where one policeman has been reported murdered and others seriously injured,” the IGP had said.
“In light of the current situation, the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units on red alert. Our officers are fully mobilised and prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to public safety and order.”
Deji Adeyanju, a human rights activist, challenged the IGP to name the policeman he claimed was killed.
However, Muyiwa Adejobi, the police public relations officer (PPRO), said in a statement on Saturday that the officer was among nine that sustained injuries during attacks by protesters.
“Nine (9) police officers sustained various degrees of injuries during attacks by protesters. One of them who initially was reported dead, miraculously survived but remains in critical condition,” Adejobi said.
The police spokesperson also said 618 suspects have been arrested so far for various violent crimes during the protests.
He said the suspects were arrested in Abuja, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Nasarawa, and Sokoto.
