From Ilorin
Mr Kayode Egbetokun,the Commissioner of Police in Kwara state, has advised parents and guardians in the state to check the conduct of their children and wards with a view to ensuring that such youths do not join hoodlums treading dangerous path.
He gave the advice on Saturday in Ilorin while addressing journalists on the #EndSARS protest in Ilorin on Friday extending to Saturday and the subsequent 24-hour curfew imposed by the state government on Saturday.
The correspondent of The Reporters, an online publication,recalls that Ilorin,the Kwara state capital, was thrown into turmoil on Friday when hoodlums infiltrated #EndSARS peaceful protest and turned it to violence.
Egbetokun said:”I want to use this opportunity to appeal to parents and guardians to keep their wards off the streets and warn them not to follow the hoodlums who are presently treading a dangerous path.
“Those who choose to remain with the criminals on the streets clearly made a choice of confrontation with the law enforcement agents and are at risk of the consequences of such an action.”
He expressed concern that the peaceful protest in Ilorin on Friday was later hijacked by hoodlums who looted warehouses, malls and shops and forcefully dispossessed individuals of their valuable belongings with a threat to do more.
The police commissioner stressed that the duty of the police and other security agencies in the state was to protect lives of the residents, the visitors, property as well as human rights.
He assured the hoodlums that they would not enjoy the protection of the police in the execution of such constitional responsibility.
Egbetokun, however,noted that attempt by hoodlums to burn down a popular Mall after looting was frustrated by security agents, adding no more protesters on the streets in the state capital.
The police boss who,commended the organisers of the #EndSARS protest and indeed, the great Nigerian youths for taking part in the peaceful protest in the state, urged law abiding residents of the state to stay at home while the curfew lasts.
