More states shut schools as #EndSARS pogrom escalates | EduCeleb
EduCeleb
21st October 2020
Governments in a few more states have ordered the closure of schools in the respective domains as the #EndSARS protests and violence escalate.
They also accompanied the decision with the declaration of movement restrictions or curfews as security forces battle to suppress protesters against police brutality across Nigeria.
In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun ordered the immediate closure of all schools in Ogun State from now till 26th October.
The Governor disclosed this on at a press conference he addressed at Okemosan, Abeokuta.
According to the Governor, this became necessary following cases of violence that have arisen as a result of the ongoing #EndSARS protest across Ogun state.
He recalled how he ordered the release of some of the End SARS protesters who were arrested for vandalising public properties in Ogun State, saying he also ordered the Attorney General of the state to drop charges against them.
However, he said while the genuine protesters have remained peaceful in their demonstrations, some hoodlums have hijacked the protest, causing violence, burning police stations, vandalising properties and mounting roadblocks to extort the public while preventing others from going about their normal businesses.
However, he explained that other options were considered in place of a curfew.
Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, also directed the immediate closure of all schools in Ibadan beginning from Wednesday, 21 October, 2020, in view of the prolonged #EndSARS protests rocking the state capital.
The governor, in a state broadcast aired on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), stated that the closure of the schools will be reviewed on Friday, 23rd October, 2020.
The governor equally announced the deployment of operatives of the ‘Operation Burst,’ a state-backed security outfit comprising soldiers, men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police, to all flash points of violence in Ibadan, the state capital, to restore normalcy and maintain peace.
He further explained that the decision to close schools and deploy men of the ‘Operation Burst’ was a result of the new dimension the ongoing #EndSARS protest was taking, adding that hoodlums have started taking advantage of the protests to harass citizens, perpetrate uncivil acts and disturb residents from carrying out their legitimate businesses.
In Kano, most schools, shops, and banks in the Sabongari Area of Kano State have remained closed, even as normalcy begins to gradually return, following Tuesday’s clash between End SARS protesters and armed hoodlums.
Residents of the area have also remained indoors for fear of an attack by hoodlums, as police patrol the area.
Tuesday’s clash led to the destruction of church buildings, vehicles, houses, while properties were also looted from shops at Aba Road as well as the Airport Road.
Security operatives were seen moving around the area to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, business activities are ongoing in other parts of the state, with the main market opened.