The #EndSARS protest turned bloody at Dutse Alhaji area of Bwari Area Council, FCT on Tuesday as Police allegedly shot and killed five protesters.
Consequently, the Police Post at Dutse Alhaji was set ablaze while several vehicles were also burnt.
An eye witness told Daily Trust that the protest, which started at about 8am, was initially peaceful until the arrival of a team of Police personnel in four trucks.
“Immediately the Police arrived they started shooting at the protesters, leading to the killing of the five victims.
“This development sparked outrage by the other protesting youths who went and set the Dutse Alhaji Police Post on fire even as several commuting vehicles were also burnt,” the witness said.
He said after shooting, the Police immediately left the scene while corpses of the victims were evacuated to the Bwari General Hospital.
- Protesters cause gridlock in Kuje
#EndSARS protesters have shut down the main road linking Kuje Town to Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Expressway in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The development has forced commercial and private vehicles as well as government workers to turn back from the bridge at Omega Church where the #EndSARS protesters had gathered.
Despite the movement of police and military vehicles patrolling the area, the gridlock is yet to disappear.
Daily Trust learnt that the protesters had also blocked Gosa Airport road.
- Crisis takes religious dimension in Apo
In Apo District, the situation is escalating to different dimensions.
Daily Trust gathered that the crisis has taken religious and ethnic dimensions.
Sources said places of worship have been set on fire while residents have resorted to self defense as there was no security presence in the area.
Daily Trust learnt that a mosque was burnt down in Pigba Sama area of Apo.
Eyewitnesses said a church in Waru area has also been set on fire.
On Monday, crisis in Apo resulted in the burning of many cars and shops while many people sustained injuries.
From the Apo Roundabout where the EndSARS protesters from Apo were advancing to the city centre, they were attacked by a pro-SARS group and allegedly an EndSARS protester was killed.
This triggered reaction from both groups as anyone in sight was attacked.
Consequently, there was a blockade which forced many people from the axis to stay the night in their work places.
When contacted for reactions, the Police spokesperson in the FCT, ASP Mariam Yusuf, said she will get back to our reporter.
She has not gotten back to the reporter at the time of filing this report.
Give Peace a Chance -NSCDC
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) FTC command has also called on protesters to “give peace a chance”.
The FCT commandant, Mathias Ohieme, said it is wisdom to obey constituted authorities stating that violence can never be a solution to any perceived grievances.
Commandant Ohieme, who made this call in a statement signed by the Command’s PRO, Akinbinu David in Abuja disclosed that massive personnel have been deployed to areas where pockets of violence have been reported across the FCT.
He called on residents of the FCT especially those living along Kuje, Airport road, Apo Mechanics, Apo Dutse and Apo waru, to maintain peace and order as officers of the corps have been deployed to strategic places to ensure free vehicular and human movement.
“Commandant Ohieme has accordingly warned hoodlums not to hide under the guise of the current situation to vandalize government critical assets noting the armed officers of the corps are on 24 hours surveillance and will not hesitate to bring them to justice once found wanting.” the statement read.
