EndSARS: DPO recounts how protesters burnt station
Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
|
A Divisional Police Officer (DPO) attached to Afao police station in Ikere Ekiti, headquarters of Ikere local government area, Mr Reuben Ayinla, on Thursday narrated how EndSARS protesters invaded the police station and set the building ablaze after vandalising all the property inside.
The DPO who recounted his ordeals while appearing before the Ekiti State Judicial Panel of inquiry into allegations of police brutality, said his men were able to safeguard every official ammunition during the attack.
He said the incident, rendered police officers in the area homeless for some days, said only two damaged ammunition were stolen, but the whole station was vandalized by the protesters, including his uniforms.
The DPO, said the development had made the police authority transferred him out of the town to Omuo-Ekiti, explaining that on the fateful day, the protesters numbering about 200 stormed the station and started throwing stone and broken bottles into the station.
”Other junior officers and myself at the station were chased out and they set the station ablaze, during which our personal belongings and exhibits were vandalised,” he explained.
According to him, some of the property vandalized at the station included; uniforms, 2 personnel vehicles, 10 exhibit vehicles and other materials.
“My personal belongings stolen were; four pairs of police uniform valued at N40,000, phone N40,000 office TV, N40,000, Startime decoder worth N8,000, two pairs of police shoes valued at N14,000, Ceremonial cap valued at N12,000, police belt which costs N5,000, beret Cap valued at N3000, standing fan worth N10,000, total valued at N184,500,
” After vandalizing those items in my office, the protesters went ahead to set the station ablaze.” the DPO added.