The Kano State Police Command announced the arrest of 326 suspected looters and vandals during the August 1, 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests.
The arrest was revealed by Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on behalf of CP Salman Dogo Garba, during a press conference at the Bompai Police Headquarters in Kano on Friday.
The police addressed and refuted misleading social media reports suggesting that images of suspects and seized items were from 2011. SP Kiyawa clarified that the images were related to the recent protests in the State.
“The same suspects involved in the looting and vandalization, arrested and paraded by the Police Command on August 1, 2024, are here today for clarity,” Kiyawa stated.
“These despicable acts are calculated attempts by enemies of peace to tarnish the reputable image of the Nigeria Police. These images showing suspects and exhibits are linked to the current incidents resulting from the ongoing August, 2024 Nationwide Protest and have no relation with any incident in the year 2011.
“Interestingly, the same suspects in the alleged looting and vandalization who were arrested and paraded by the Police Command on 1st August 2024 are here before the press today, 02/08/2024 for clarity.”
In addition to the arrests, the police recovered significant quantities of stolen items, including two AK-47 rifles looted from the Audu Bako Secretariat and High Court Complex.
Kiyawa emphasized that the suspects will be charged to court promptly.
CP Salman Dogo Garba praised the Kano State Government for its swift imposition of a 24-hour curfew to curb unrest and called on residents to return any looted property to the nearest police station.
LEADERSHIP reports that during the first day of the #EndBadGovernance protests against hardship in the State on Thursday, hoodlums attacked and looted a yet-to-be commissioned NCC facility and private business centres where multi-million Naira items were carted away.
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