#EndSARS protests continue in Edo state on Tuesday as hundreds of protesters defied the 24-hour curfew declared by the state government and barricaded some of the roads and streets in Benin City, the Edo state capital.
It was gathered that the protester took over the Benin-Ugbowo-Lagos road, Sapele road by-pass and Agbor roads.
But there was no protest within the city centre as the road were deserted by the protesters.
It was gathered that the police later dispersed the youths who moved into the streets to set up barricade and bunfire.
The hoodlums it was gathered however turned the protest to money making venture as motorists had to pay before being allowed to pass the roadblock by the youths who wield iron rods, wooden clubs and other dangerous weapons.
A driver who craved anonymity, said he paid N200 at each of the road block mounted by the youths.
Meanwhile, commercial motorcyclists took advantage of the situation and were charging N2,500 for a journey from Jehovah Junction to Ramat Park, which hitherto cost N80 on a normal day.
The situation it was gathered was not different in other parts of the Benin metropolis.
Meanwhile, since the protest turned violent on Monday, seven police stations have been set ablaze by the hoodlums.
The burnt police stations include Ugbekun, St saviour, Idogbo, textile mill road and Oba Market, Ivbiotor, Evbotubu police stations.
Effort to reach Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor was unsuccessful as several calls put across to his phone were not answered.
1993 inmates missing after Custodial Centres’ attacks
The Federal Government of Nigeria, on Tuesday, said 1,993 inmates in legal custody were missing at the last count after two Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Custodial Centres in Benin City and Oko in Edo State were attacked on Monday by protesters purportedly under the #ENDSARS aegis.
A statement signed by the Director, Press & Public Relations, Ministry of Interior, Mohammed Manga, on Tuesday evening, also said the weapons in the two Custodial Centres’ armouries were looted by the attackers.
“They came in large number, bearing dangerous weapons and attacked the officers on guard duty.
“They were unmistakable on their mission, which was to force the cells open, free the inmates and carry out other nefarious activities,” the statement read in part.
While condemning the attack, the FG pointed out that most of the inmates held at the centres were convicted criminals serving terms for various criminal offences, awaiting execution or standing trial for violent crimes.
“Their being let loose gravely imperils lives and property.
“It is an unacceptable and intolerable threat to national and communal security.
The federal government, however, said the situation had been brought under control, adding that it had beefed up security in and around the custodial centres nationwide.
The statement also disclosed that government had commenced investigation to determine the full impact of the attack.
It further said that security agencies had commenced the tracking and apprehension of all the escaped inmates before they do any harm to anyone.
“Anyone who notices any person or persons that might have escaped from the custodial centres should, as a patriotic duty, inform the nearest security agency,” the statement stressed.
