#EndSARS protest: Kanu’s incitement led to killing of 233 security agents, says DSS operative

No fewer than 233 security agents were killed during the  #EndSARS protest following incitements by the detained leader of the  Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu,  a prosecution witness has said.

The witness, who is an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS),  added that at least 164 police stations and nine Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  offices were destroyed across the country, allegedly due to Kanu’s inciting remarks.

The witness, who is the fifth in the terrorism trial of  Kanu at a Federal High Court in Abuja, gave the figures while testifying at the resumption of proceedings yesterday. No fewer than 233 security agents were killed during the  #EndSARS protest following incitements by the detained leader of the  Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu,  a prosecution witness has said.

The witness, who is an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS),  added that at least 164 police stations and nine Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  offices were destroyed across the country, allegedly due to Kanu’s inciting remarks.

The witness, who is the fifth in the terrorism trial of  Kanu at a Federal High Court in Abuja, gave the figures while testifying at the resumption of proceedings yesterday. 

He was led in evidence by the prosecution  Lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).

He gave a breakdown of the incidents while going through a report tendered by Awomolo. 

The operative also told the court that he knew Kanu through the mass media and had not met him personally.

He added that he was mandated to lead a team comprising officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and DSS, including photographers and other Investigators, to gather records of the criminality that occurred between 2020 and 2021 during the #EndSARS protest.

His words: “The assignment included taking records from heads of security agencies in the various states that we visited and updating death certificates of security agents that died, and reporting damage to properties during the EndSARS protest

 “There are photographs of public properties destroyed, the death certificates of officers that died and and their pictures.”

Awomolo later tendered a copy of the report on the assessment of the damage recorded, death reports and certificates of death of security agents, which the court admitted in evidence.

While going through death reports and certificates of death of security officers, the witness admitted that 186 policemen, 37 military personnel and 10 DSS operatives were killed during the protest.

The PW-5 said out of nine INEC facilities that were destroyed, Cross River had four, Anambra, one and Akwa Ibom,  two. 

During cross-examination, one of the Defence Lawyers, Prof. Onyechi  Ikpeazu, asked the witness if he took part in the investigation of the charge against Kanu, to which he said no.

“I  was not privy to the allegations, but was only instructed to take records of public properties destroyed and security personnel killed during the #EndSARS protest as a result of statements made by the defendant,” he said.

He insisted that Kanu incited the protesters to kill security agents and instructed them on how to manufacture objects used in the protest.

When asked if it was as a result of Kanu that there was a protest in Osun and  destruction of a court in  Lagos,   the witness said: “I do not know that, but I was asked to obtain  records as a result.”

Ikpeazu asked him again: “Was it the defendant who told the protesters to destroy the Lagos court?  

The witness replied: “It was on record that the defendant issued directives. My task was limited only to obtaining the records as a result of #EndSARS.” 

“But your statement was not limited to taking records, and that is why I am asking you,” Ikpeazu told him.

When asked if the protest was a Biafran issue, the PW-5 said: “The fact speaks for itself. Before, during and after the #EndSARS protest, the defendant made statements, urging the protesters to carry out insurrection against the Nigerian state.”

The witness also said that his assignment was not to investigate Biafra but to obtain records relating to #EndSARS protest in which the IPOB leader made statements that led to mayhem at the time.

When asked if he had heard about Aisha Yesufu before, the witness said yes, but said he did not know if she is an  IPOB member.

When further asked if Yesufu was Igbo, the witness said: “I do not think she is Igbo.”

When also asked if she is from Abia, the PW-5 said: “As I said, I have not investigated her (Yesufu) and do not know who she is.”

When asked if he was aware that the protest was a result of police brutality, he said: “As experts, we know that in every protest, there are organic issues and issues that lace around it, and as experts, we are to identify the organic issues, though there might be secondary manifestations.

When asked if he knew SARS, the witness, who responded in the affirmative, said: “It is Special Anti-Robbery Squad.”

When the lawyer restated that Nigerians protested as a result of  brutality, the official responded that “Nigerians were instigated by subversive elements to go against the government of the day

He admitted that though he was aware that there were extra-judicial killings by members of SARS in Lagos, Ibadan and Ifelodun in Oyo, he said he did not have the facts.

According to the witness, those allegations were used as a pretence by subversive elements.

He said Kanu is from the South East and the leader of the IPOB.

After the cross-examination, Awomolo announced that the prosecution would be closing its case.

He said after the evidence of the PW-5, the prosecution was satisfied that from the avalanche of evidence tendered, including broadcasts of activities of the leader of the IPOB.  

The leader of the defendant’s legal team, Kanu Agabi (SAN) told the court that the defendant intended to make a no-case submission.

Justice James Omotosho then gave the defence 14 days to file and serve the prosecution with its no-case submission.

Justice Omotosho also gave the prosecution 14 days to respond and two days for the defence to reply on points of law.

He adjourned till July 18 for adoption for adoption of the no-case submission.