#EndSARS: Suspected hoodlums allegedly set Okitipupa LG Secretariat, police station on fire

Some suspected hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSARS protest against police brutality in Okitipupa Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State on Thursday allegedly set ablaze the Okitipupa Divisional Police Station and the LGA Secretariat.

According to reports, it took the efforts by  the officers of the Nigerian  Army, 19 Battalion, Niquora Barracks in Okitipupa LGA, to stop the hoodlums from setting ablaze the Ondo State Correctional Centre in Okitipupa.

There was also reports that the protesters also released over 200 motorcycles and other valuable properties seized and kept at the police station to the public.

An eye witness, who preferred anonymity, said that trouble began after the police attempted to force the angry protesters to obey the curfew imposed  by the state government on the residents of the state.

“The altercation between the police and the protesters led to the burning of the police station and the Local Government Council Secretariat.

“The efforts and timely intervention of the Nigerian Army  officers, however, stopped the hoodlums  from setting the Correctional Centre in Okitipupa on fire with a view to releasing the  prisoners there,” the eye witness said.

Efforts to get the reaction of the police to the development were not successful as calls made to the phone line of the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Tee Leo-Ikoro, were not returned as at the time of filing this report.

Also, efforts to speak with the Okitipupa LGA Chairman, Mr Igbekele Akinrinwa, also proved abortive as his telephone lines were switched off.