As violence erupted in Akwa Ibom State following the EndSARS protest, hoodlums have reportedly attacked one of the biggest shopping centres in Uyo, De Choice Mall located along Ikot Ekpene Road by Ibom Plaza in the state capital.
Another report has it that the Barracks Road and Aka Road Branches of Access Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Aka Road and Anchor Insurance House were also touched by the hoodlums.
According eye-witness report De Choice Mall was set ablaze by hoodlums who invaded the centre and carted away items worth millions of naira and also set the facility ablaze.
The hoodlums were reportedly infiltrated the EndSARS protest group and wreaked havoc in the state causing break down of law and order in the state.
Some of the items looted at De Choice were mobile phones, electronic gadgets, confectionery and other undisclosed items.
Youths in Akwa Ibom State joined their peers in the country to protest against police brutality and extra Judicial killings by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.
The youths are also demanding a total scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and reformation of the Nigeria Police Force to be able to function effectively.
The protest in Uyo which was characterised by controversy following an alleged attempt by the state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel to bribe the protesters with ₦4million to stop the protest in the state.
The purported ₦4million has generated serious reactions with some people blaming the state governor for trying to bribe the youths while others see nothing wrong in the Governors “gift”.
The controversy escalated when one of the organizers of the protest, Mr Kufre Carter came out to confessed that he actually collected ₦500,000 out of the ₦4million offer by the governor.
But it was not clear if the recent violence in the state has anything to do with the controversial ₦4million.
Some people have told Morenews.ng that what happened at Uyo was not about the peaceful EndSARS protest but cult clash.
It was alleged by some commentators that some members of the secret cult only seize the opportunity of the protest to cause mayhem in the state following the recent proscription of some secret cult groups by the state government.
Others have also blamed the police who were deployed to help clear roads blocked by the “protesters” for free traffic.
The police had allegedly killed one of the protesters at Ibom Plaza thereby causing youths to go on rampage.
Morenews.ng had earlier reported that two persons have been killed in the violent protest in Uyo metroplis on Thursday
Meanwile, the governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has declared curfew in the state from 9pm Thursday to midday Friday, 23 October 2020.
