The arrest of 52 individuals during the #EndBadGovernance protest in Bauchi has been confirmed by the Bauchi State Police Command. These individuals are allegedly involved in violent activities, as stated by Commissioner of Police Auwal Musa Mohammed in a briefing to the press on Friday. He also mentioned that a policeman was injured during the protests.
The arrests were made due to violations of public order and unlawful assembly since the protesters did not seek permission from the police for the demonstration. Among the arrested individuals, 50 were from the state capital where the ‘End Bad Governance Protest’ took place.
Commissioner Mohammed mentioned, “Fifty-two protesters were apprehended for displaying violent behavior and disrupting public peace, which was not part of our plans.”
During the protest, the demonstrators turned unruly, resorting to theft and property damage in various parts of the city. Despite being dispersed, over 3,000 protesters regrouped and attempted to gain entry into Government House. Some protesters threw stones at police officers, resulting in injuries to some officers.
Commissioner Mohammed emphasized the professional conduct of the police force, ensuring no harm was caused to anyone involved, even when protesters used women and children as shields.
He pledged that the police force would uphold law and order during the ongoing protests and urged the public to conduct themselves in an orderly manner.