The Inspector-General of Police committee assessing property damaged in the wake of ENDSARS protest on Saturday inspected police facilities damaged in Ogun State during the recent protest that culminated into violence and looting nationwide.
A Divisional Crime Office (DCO) attached to Ogun Police Command, DSP Augustine Ogbeche was killed in the violence in Atan – Ota in Ado – Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.
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A Divisional Police Officer, (DPO), SP Sikiru Olugbenga equally sustained injuries, while two police stations – Oba/Oko, near Abeokuta and Atan – Ota, were vandalized, in separate attacks.
The IGP team led by a Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro on Sunday inspected Atan – Ota Divisional Headquarters which was razed down by the arsonists.
Yaro flanked by other senior police officers from Ogun Command and the Olu of Atan – elect, Isiyemi Akinyemi Adeniji, assessed the level damaged to the Atan – Ota police division.
Apart from the nearly – irreparable damage done to structure, about eight vehicles vandalized including a vehicle of border patrol kept within the station for safe keeping.
Burnt roof, shattered windows, cracked walls, vandalized vehicles and blood stains of the slain cop, his shoes and keys were those left of the police station commissioned in July, 2019.
Speaking with newsmen, the Spokesman of Ogun Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi said the team was in the state to assess the level of damages done to the police facilities in the state.
Oyeyemi said the heinous attacks were the hazards of the police duty “and we have taken it as such.”
He denied reports that police are off their duty post, saying the force could not afford to expose residents to insecurity.
Oyeyemi said, “We are back on our duty. It is not possible for us to expose members of the public to insecurity. Despite what happened police are back on duty and members of the communities are making efforts to make sure that they put all the facilities that were damaged in place. We are back on duty. Our men are not off the road. Far from it.
“If you noticed yesterday (Saturday) across the state, you will see that we embarked convoy patrol across the state. That is to boost confidence in members of the public that police are to protect them.
“We are assuring them that we are not taking their security for granted. Our members are back on duty and we are not going to expose members of the public to insecurity. We are duty bound to protect life and property. We are not going shy away from our responsibility.
“Whatever happened is one of the hazards of the job. And we have taken it as such.”
Oyeyemi said the IGP, Muhammad Adamu had boosted morale of the police officers, saying, “We are back with a renewed vigour.”
Olu of Atan – elect in his remarks described the incident as regrettable, blaming it on hoodlums.
He said responsible indigenes of the community could not have attacks lives of police officers securing them and equally razed down the facility donated by the community.
He, however, noted that normalcy had returned to the community, while efforts are being made to make peace with the security agents.
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