A prosecution witness has claimed that 233 security officers lost their lives during the #EndSARS protests, which were allegedly incited by Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The witness, an agent with the Department of State Services (DSS) and identified as EEE for safety reasons, stated this in the ongoing terrorism trial of Kanu, while testifying before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The witness said Kanu’s incitement during the #EndSARS protest, resulted in the destruction of164 police stations and nine offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Also, the witness testified that he knew Kanu from media coverage but had never met him in person.
The witness provided a detailed report showing that among those killed during the unrest in various parts of the country, 186 were police officers, 37 were military personnel, and the others were members of other security services.
The witness explained that they were assigned to collect information on crimes committed during the protests from 2020 to 2021, and this included gathering records and certificates for security personnel who died during that period.
Prosecuting counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), sought the court’s permission to present documents illustrating the damage and fatalities as evidence, which was granted by the court.
Kanu’s defense attorney, Onyechi Ikpeazu, indicated they would raise objections to some of the evidence tendered by the prosecution when they later present their case.
Thereafter, the judge accepted the presented documents into evidence.
As the witness reviewed the evidence, they confirmed the number of police officers and military personnel killed, offering a breakdown of fatalities by state.
For instance, in states like Abia and Imo, several police officers died, while military casualties were reported across various locations.
The witness noted the significant number of police stations that were attacked during the protests, with places like Lagos being severely affected.
Read also:
- FG closes case in Nnamdi Kanu’s terrorism trial as defense plans no-case submission
- IPOB accuses FG of using dead men’s statements in Nnamdi Kanu’s trial
- Nnamdi Kanu’s broadcasts caused economic paralysis in South-East, DSS tells court
The witness also mentioned that several INEC facilities were destroyed across different states.
During cross-examination, Kanu’s lawyer questioned the witness about their involvement in the investigation of Kanu’s actions and the nature of their record-keeping.
The witness clarified that they were not involved in directly investigating Kanu, but were tasked with documenting the aftermath of the protests related to his statements.
The witness affirmed that Kanu’s remarks were linked to encouraging violence against security personnel.
However, he stated they were not privy to every detail of what led to other specific protests or damages.
When asked about individuals associated with the protests, including Aisha Yusufu, the witness said they were not certain of her affiliations or ethnic background, highlighting their focus was primarily on gathering records about the protests rather than broader political issues.
This ongoing court case sheds light on the contentious aftermath of the #EndSARS protests, illustrating the complex interactions between public sentiment, government authority, and legal proceedings in Nigeria.
