The Kano State Police have confirmed that several property owners, whose assets were looted and vandalized during the first day of the EndBadGovernance protest, are currently receiving medical treatment.
During a news conference on Friday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, stated that some businessmen fainted upon learning about the damage to their properties.
Haruna said, “The owners of property looted and vandalized by some hoodlums during the first day of the Hunger protest are in the hospital because of shock.”
The police also reported that the number of arrests related to the protests has risen to 326 and urged the public to avoid spreading false information, 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 #EndBadGovernance Nationwide Protest,” Haruna said. “Contrary to the misleading unverified social media reports, the images are linked to the current incidents and have no relation with any incident in the year 2011.”
He continued, “The same suspects involved 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.”
The Commissioner of Police, CP Salman Dogo Garba, has directed the Anti-Cyber Crime Unit to investigate and prosecute those responsible for spreading fake news. The CP warned against the dissemination of fake news and hate speech, which can incite violence and affect the state’s overall security.
“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,” Haruna said. The CP commended the state government for promptly imposing a 24-hour curfew.
Additionally, the CP urged parents, guardians, and law-abiding citizens to return any looted properties to the nearest police station voluntarily.
