Edo police embark on ‘operation show of force’ after violent protest
A combined team of security agencies embarked on “Operation show of Force” around all parts of Benin city.
The move aims to deter violent protesters over the scarcity of New naira notes in Benin city, Edo state.
As early as 6 am, the combined security team had converged at the headquarters of the Edo state Police command in Benin city for the movement.
The security team were drawn from the Military, Nigeria Police, Department of State Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Correctional service Armed squad and Edo Vigilante Network.
With over 100 utility vehicles, the security team took off from the Police headquarters in Benin city. It went through Sapele road, Kings square, Sakponba road, MM Way, Ikpoba hill and Iyaro.
The heavily armed security team also went through Ugbowo, Uselu, Tv road and some interior parts of Benin city.
It was revealed that the move is to tell intending hoodlums planning to launch another mayhem in Benin City that there is water-tight security to deal decisively with any person or group of persons that may want to foment further trouble over the naira scarcity.
The Edo state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the police command got a distress call that some hoodlums went into town and embarked on violent protests over naira scarcity.
According to SP Chidi Nwabuzor, “what they term peaceful protest later became violent, and the police and other security agents will not allow any breakdown of law and order.
I advise parents and guardians to keep their children and wards in check as the security agents have fully taken charge of the situation”.
It would be recalled that some hoodlums on Wednesday launched a heavy attack on some banks, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Point Of Sales Shops (POS), and some government facilities.
Some persons were also confirmed dead during the fracas.
Normalcy has since returned to Benin city, Edo state.
On Wednesday, Edo youth took to the street to protest the shortage and refusal of banks to disburse the new naira notes.
People arrived at the bank early to get some currency, but the bank refused to disburse and instead ordered the angry protesters to go to the Central Bank of Nigeria, Benin Chapter.
Grumbling soon grew into chaos as customers started destroying bank properties, and three people were reportedly killed in the violent protest that saw the closure of businesses in Benin City.
On January 31, the Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, extended the deadline for the old note retrieval to February 10 and also added 7 days grace period, which ends on 17 February.
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