Unconfirmed reports said, at least, seven persons were killed in the attack.
Some of the protesters had earlier in the day raised alarm on twitter that the flood lights in the area had been disconnected, preparatory for the operation.
A source told Vanguard that power was disconnected in the area to prevent the Close Circuit Television, CCTV, from recording the attack.
Vanguard gathered that as soon as dusk set in, the uniformed men stormed the area, and opened fire on the protesters, setting off pandemonium.
Consequently, protesters scampered in different directions for safety, with many sustaining life-threatening injuries.
It was learned that one of those who died in the attack was the Disco Jockey (DJ) who had been entertaining the protesters since the protest began about two weeks ago.
A source told Vanguard last night that an ambulance heading to the scene to evacuate the victims to the hospitals was turned back by the uniformed men.
Blood-stained Nigerian flags littered the area by the time the shootings ended last night.Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Imo, Osun and Plateau state governments yesterday declared 24 hours curfew, as hoodlums hijacked the #EndSARS protest which degenerated into a chaos across the country.
Edo State had earlier on Monday declared the 24-hour curfew after hoodlums invaded two prisons in Benin, setting free 1,993 prisoners.
This came as no fewer than 13 persons were killed yesterday in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan, as hoodlums intensified their attacks on #EndSARS protesters, even as four police stations were razed in Lagos.
Of this figure, four were killed in Lagos, including two policemen; two in Ibadan; and seven in Abuja.
Several others also sustained injuries in these attacks and separate attacks in Jos and Lafia in Nasarawa State.
The activities of the hoodlums compelled some states of the federation to declare 24-hour curfew yesterday.
Announcing the curfew in Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the decision to declare the curfew, following the violence which broke out in some parts of the state, perpetrated by criminals hiding under the guise of #EndSARS protesters, said: “I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society.
‘’Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our state.
“As a government that is alive to its responsibility and has shown a commitment to the movement #ENDSARS, we will not watch and allow anarchy in our dear state.
“I, therefore, hereby impose a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the state as from 4:00 pm today, October 20, 2020. Nobody, except essential service providers and first responders, must be found on the streets.’’
This report was put together by Evelyn Usman, Ola Ajayi, Omeiza Ajayi, Luminous Jannamike, Marie-Therese Nanlong, Ozioruva Aliu, David Odama & Shina Abubakar of the Vanguard.
