*AIT/DAAR Communication office torched

Suspected hoodlums launched a coordinated attack by attacks into Oko Medium Correctional Centre in Oko Community, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

The assault led to the freedom of scores of inmates, was launched on Monday barely one hour after Benin Correctional Centre on Sapele road in Benin City, the State Capital.

The iron bars of of the facility were briught down by over 200 armed gunmen who overpowered the five prisons guards on duty before they set the inmates including convicted kidnappers and armed robbers free.

Security sources said that the Nigerian Air force personnel had repelled the hoodlums who attempted to takeover the airport before the launched the attack.

It was learnt that the authorities of the Correctional Centre, had requested other security agencies to send back team before the gunshots which set residents of the host Community on edge.

Arms and ammunition were carted away by the hoodlums, but the number of casualties are yet to be verified as at the time of filing this report.

The hoodlums also vandalised Oba market and Textile Mill road police Divisions in Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas of the State on Monday.

The hoodlums had also burnt down a police post at Idogbo and Ugbekun police station both in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area the State on Monday.

Also, angry protesters have vented their anger on the Benin office of DARR Communication Limited, operators of Africa Independent Television and Ray Power radio.

According to one of the members of Staff of the station who craved anonymity, the hoodlums who came in their number, vandalized several vehicles in the premise.

The source wondered if the attack was because the station reported the attack on the police stations that were burnt.

“I don’t know what could have warranted their action. We are not police, we are not government, we are only a private outfit doing our job,” he said.

The Head of Station of AIT, Bisi Akpaida could not be reached on her mobile phones for a reaction.

The spokesman of the Nigeria police, Edo State Command, SP. Chidi Nwabuzor, could not be reach for comment.

Confirming the incident on its tweeter page on Monday, the Nigeria police, described the attacks on some police formations in some parts of Edo State by persons posing as #End SARS protesters in Benin, as unfortunate.

“The extent of damage cannot be ascertained at the moment but report indicates that the protesters carted away arms and ammunition from the armoury and freed the suspects in custody before setting some of the facilities ablaze.

“The Force is doing everything possible at the moment to bring the situation under control, protect lives of innocent citizens and prevent further attacks on any other critical infrastructure in the state.

“The Force is calling on parents/guardians to prevail on their children/wards to desist from acts of violence under any guise whatsoever”, the statement stressed.

Worries by the development, Edo State Government on Tuesday, imposes a 24-hour curfew across the state till further notice.

The curfew is to take effect from 4pm on Monday October 19, 2020, according to statement by Mr. Osarodion Ogie, Secretary to Edo State Government.

The statement also announced the indefinite shutting down of schools in the State.

 56 total views