By RFIPosted on 17-01-2020Modified on 17-01-2020 at 00:27
The public prosecutor near the court of first instance of Abomey announced Wednesday, January 15 the death of two civilians and six wounded police side in Savè 252 kilometers north of Cotonou, stronghold of Boni Yayi.
The drama occurred this Wednesday during an operation to arrest the perpetrators of violent incidents that occurred on January 9. The two victims come from the red-light district of Savè , the stronghold of former President Boni Yayi.
Savè had been under tension since January 8. Following the arrest of one of the alleged leaders of the disturbances after the non-inclusive legislative elections, angry young people had blocked the interstate highway for long hours, ransacking official vehicles according to the prosecutor.
This Wednesday, the police raided to arrest the alleged perpetrators. According to our information, the young people were in a meeting. But they fled. A motorcycle buddy then opened fire to force the roadblock and the police retaliated. The two civilians were killed because the police wanted to free themselves and regain control of the situation, said the prosecutor. Good sources say that there were six arrests in the process.
Last May, Savè was also shaken by the deadly violence following the legislative elections.
According to residents, Savè is calm, police and soldiers are visible, the army is patrolling with tanks on the corridor. A government minister from Savè is on the spot and multiplies the meetings with the elected officials, the wise men and the religious certainly for the sake of appeasement.
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