Police arrest ’24 miscreants’ over hijack of protest in Kaduna

The Kaduna police command says “24 miscreants” have been arrested for attempting to hijack the protest against hunger in the state.

Nigerians marched to the streets on Thursday to protest against a biting economic hardship.

In a statement on Friday, Mansir Hassan, police spokesperson in Kaduna, said the hoodlums injured two police officers while attempting to invade government house.

Hassan said the hoodlums also destroyed the windshields of the police armoured personnel carrier stationed at government house.

“Following the infamous sudden outbreak of violence that characterised the nationwide protest in Kaduna, the police has arrested no fewer than twenty four miscreants involved in violent conducts occasioned by mischief in the state,” the statement reads.

“As earlier envisaged, the somewhat peaceful protest has been hijacked by hoodlums who took undue advantage of the so-called faceless sponsors and unleashed their planned mayhem on the state.

“Consequently, the unruly miscreants attempted to gain access into the Kaduna state Government House before they were resisted by the security personnel at the said location, injured two policemen, broke the glasses of Police armoured personnel carrier stationed at entrance of the Government House.

“They subsequently attacked the office and staff of the Kaduna state traffic law enforcement agency (KASTLEA) and torched the former along with adjoining other state government offices.”

The police spokesperson said the suspects were arrested with scissors and jackknives, adding that a live 7.62 X 39mm ammunition was recovered from one Hassan Ibrahim of Rigasa area.

He said another suspect was arrested for dressing in police camouflage in order to deceive people.

He expressed concern that the protesters did not liaise with the commissioner of police before taking to the streets.

“In the absence of such a notice, it will be presumed that there’s none and any attempt to protest violently, those persons or groups will be termed miscreants and will be treated as such,” Hassan added.