The Police in Kano have confirmed that some of the owners of looted and vandalised property during the first day of the EndBadGovernance protest are currently receiving treatment at the hospitals.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, who confirmed the development while addressing a news conference on Friday, said some of the affected businessmen fainted when the news about the unfortunate incident broke to them.
He said, “The owners of property that were looted and vandalized by some hoodlums during the first day of the Hunger protest, some of them we learnt are in the hospital because of shock.”
Kiyawa added that currently the number of arrests had risen to 326 and appealed to the public to desist from propagating fake news, especially on social media.
“The Command wishes to clarify the recent deliberate false and mischievous news circulating on social media platforms concerning the photos of suspects and exhibits involved in the destruction and looting of public and private properties under the guise of the planned #End Bad Governance Nationwide Protest.
“Contrary to the misleading unverified social media reports that some of the images were posted sometime in 2011, are false and baseless.
“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.”
He added, “Interestingly, the same suspects in the alleged looting and vandalizing who were arrested and paraded by the Police Command on 01/08/2024 are here before the press today, 02/08/2024 for clarity
“On this note, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Police Command, CP Salman Dogo Garba directed the Anti-Cyber Crime Unit of the Command to launch an investigation with a view to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of this ungodly act capable of instigating the public against the Police.
“The CP further warns against meddling of fake news and hate speeches which are capable of inciting violence and affecting the overall security situation in the State
“In the aftermath of the 1st August 2024 Nationwide protest, a total of 326 suspects were arrested with a large quantity of exhibits recovered. All the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution.”
The CP commended the state Government for prompt intervention in imposing the 24-hour curfew.
In addition, the CP calls on parents, guardians and the law-abiding people of the State who saw their wards with footed properties to return the same to the nearest Police Station voluntarily.