The FCT Police Command has denied media reports that its personnel killed a teenager, Saturday in Kubwa, a suburb in the FCT, during day three of the EndBadGovernance protest, insisting operatives deployed to the axis were not issued lethal arms, only anti-riot equipment.
Reports in the media have it that the yet to be identified young boy was watching the ongoing hunger protest around Zenith Bank axis in the Kubwa.
Blueprint reports that a viral video of the incident online showed the victim lying in a pool of blood while some protesters and sympathisers rallied round trying to assist.
The police deployed to maintain order during the protest in the area, were alleged to have opened fire on protesters to disperse them.
A press statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Josephine Adeh, read in part, “In response to the video footage making the rounds alleging the killing of a yet-to-be identified teenager by police operatives in Kubwa by Zenith Bank while protesting on August 3, 2024, the FCT police command thereby debunks the allegations, stating that its operatives are not responsible for the killing of the teenager, as the operatives deployed to the axis were not issued lethal arms but only with anti-riot equipment not capable of occassioning the death of the teenager.
“In light of the rather infuriating incident, the commissioner of police, FCT, CP Benneth Igweh, has ordered an immediate investigation be conducted to ascertain the remote cause of death of the deceased, calling on well-meaning residents to provide the command with necessary information to aid the investigation.”
She said, “While expressing profound condolences to the family of the bereaved, he assures the family and public of swift justice, as effort is ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators of the unfortunate incident.
“Also, the command is aware of the antics of mischief makers who may want to exploit the current situation in the country to spread false information with the aim at misleading and causing apprehension in the populace; it therefore calls on residents to shun such misinformation, as the command is committed to ensuring the security and safety of all and sundry.”
