A Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted a pivotal report from the Department of State Services (DSS) that alleges a direct connection between Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and the violent incidents during the #EndSARS protests, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of 186 police officers and the destruction of 164 police stations.
Presiding Judge James Omotoso allowed the prosecution to submit the report as evidence during the resumed terrorism trial of Kanu.
The report was presented through the testimony of the fifth prosecution witness, a DSS operative identified only as Mr. EEE for security reasons.
Mr. EEE testified that he was part of an intelligence team deployed across the South-East and other regions to document the extent of violence linked to the #EndSARS demonstrations. “I know the defendant from media reports; I have never met him in person,” he disclosed.
The operative detailed his task of compiling damage assessments, death tolls, and gathering evidence of property destruction, which he attributed to incendiary statements allegedly made by Kanu.
Among the exhibits admitted by the court were the damage assessment report, death certificates of fallen security personnel, and a certificate of compliance.
While the defense objected to the admission of these documents, the court deferred ruling on the objections to a later date.
According to the witness, the unrest claimed the lives of 186 police officers, 37 military personnel, and 10 DSS operatives.
In addition, 164 police stations and nine Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) facilities across 17 states including Lagos, Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, and Rivers were destroyed, allegedly as a direct consequence of Kanu’s provocative messages.
During cross-examination, defense counsel Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) challenged the credibility of the DSS report and questioned the evidence linking Kanu to the violence.
