Unrest In Benin As Hoodlums Hijack #EndSARS Protest, Release Prisoners From Jail [Video]

Suspected hoodlums have hijacked the ongoing peaceful protest against the extrajudicial activities of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Benin City, Edo State.

KanyiDaily had reported that there is an ongoing #EndSARS protest across the country against the SARS tactical unit of the Nigerian Police Force over its brutality, illegal arrest, extortion, extra-judicial killings, among others.

The #EndSARS protest in Benin have taken a violent dimension as some hoodlums who posed as protesters blocked major entry and exit points in the ancient city, while others jumped in front of vehicles to demand for money before they were allowed to pass.

– Happening now : Unrest in Adesua junction,Benin City as hoodlums hijack EndSARS protest.

pic.twitter.com/VhGmwJKnUy

— Postsubman (@Postsubman) October 19, 2020

The entire stretch of the Auchi-Benin Road, by the Eyaen axis of the by-pass was blocked all the way to Aduwawa with only some commercial drivers chanting “Buhari must go” driving dangerously through the road.

Things are going wild in Benin…Thugs have hijacked the peaceful protest! #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/1tVJAEkT8G

— DAMOLA 🏀⚽️ ⚾️🔞 (@holardamolar) October 19, 2020

Another set of demonstrators took over the Benin–Lagos highway with some under the pedestrian bridge by the University of Benin main gate where they have been since last Saturday.

Benin is Something else oh. pic.twitter.com/pKXQSoDnGZ

— O.A💫 (@SeniormanOA) October 19, 2020

Another set moved from the main gate to Ageen Aluminum area of the road, thus making it impossible for anybody coming in or going out of the city to meander through the inner street roads.

#EndSARS This was in Benin, they kept chanting #BuhariMustGo #PeoplePower #RevolutionNow pic.twitter.com/fQ7xFLF6v4

— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) October 19, 2020

Businesses along that axis including petrol stations, car wash, barbers’ shops, provisions shops quickly closed their premises while the demonstrators had a free day playing football on the road, smoking and drinking.

In Benin City, #EndSARS protesters block off roads to commuters and motorists, set up bonfires. Residents play football on empty expressways. Without public and private transport, workers trek distances pic.twitter.com/StzoDZwndB

— Daily Trust (@daily_trust) October 19, 2020

Series of vidoes circulating the social media on Monday morning indicates that the hoodlums also broke into the prison along Sapele Road in Benin City and released a lot of inmates.

Watch some of the videos below:

https://twitter.com/instablog9ja/status/1318128287802183680?s=20

BREAKING: Sapele Prison in Benin invaded, prisoners are sighted escaping. pic.twitter.com/Gfe1kj43yl

— Olúyẹmí Fásípè AICMC (@YemieFash) October 19, 2020

https://twitter.com/DuchessT_/status/1318127584874536962?s=20

The moment some prisoners escaped from a correctional facility in Benin 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/znfLAfgcso

— Naija (@Naija_PR) October 19, 2020

Scenes from Benin city where a prison break has occurred pic.twitter.com/RNghiLYay1

— Pulse Nigeria (@PulseNigeria247) October 19, 2020

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has asked #EndSARS protesters to leave the streets, saying the federal government has heard their complaints.