Angry protesters of ENDSARS on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 killed an Ika born Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Augustine Ogbeche, the Divisional Crime Officer with the police station in the Atan-Ota Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. Late DSP Ogbeche who hailed from Mbiri Kingdom in Ika North East Local Government Area was said to have barely two weeks to retire from Service.
The protesters were also reported to have set ablaze Atan-Ota Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State police station, carted with arms and inflicted injuries on the DPO, SP Sikiru Olugbenga, whose whereabouts is yet unknown.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said one civilian also lost his life to the violence while another police station at Obada-Oko in the Ewekoro Local Government Area, which had been serving as a Zonal intervention office for the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad was attacked.
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He said, “The hitherto peaceful protest embarked upon by youths across Ogun State is unfortunately taking a dangerous violent dimension as some people with ulterior motives are now using the opportunity to commit all sorts of heinous crimes.
“Early this (Wednesday) morning, the protesters went to Atan-Ota and set the police station there ablaze and subsequently murdered the DCO, DSP Augustine Ogbeche, in cold blood.
“A civilian also died in the process while some arms were carted away. They also inflicted serious injury on the DPO, SP Sikiru Olugbenga, whose whereabouts is yet unknown. Also in Abeokuta, some group of boys attacked Obada-oko Divisional headquarters and vandalized it.”
The PPRO said in line with the attacks on the Officers and their stations, the Commissioner of Police Ogun State Command, Edward Ajogun, has appealed to the youth to eschew violence and embrace peace.
The Police boss, according to the PPRO, said, “The youths are reminded that since the commencement of the protests, the Police have been nice and civil to them even when some of our men were injured and our stations damaged.
“We even went ahead and released all the 36 suspects we arrested. However, if in the course of handling the protests anybody feels offended, we plead understanding and not retaliatory measures, including killing and maiming policemen and burning and damaging police stations.
“We will ensure that justice is served any aggrieved person. Please and please let us continue to embrace peace rather than violence.
“The command sincerely appeals to the youths. Parents and guardians are also enjoined to help rein in their children and wards.”
PATRICK GBUCHANYE