Protests As Amotekun Officer Allegedly kill UI Student
Hundreds of youths from Oyo town on Thursday stormed the Oyo State Government Secretariat in protest of the alleged killing of a student of The University of Ibadan by an officer of the Oyo State Amotekun Corps.
The protesters, mostly students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) staged a roadblock on one side of the Agodi Secretariat-Bodija road causing heavy traffic gridlock in the axis.
Motorists and road users plying the Agodi-Secretariat-Bodija-Parliamentary Road on Thursday had a hectic time assessing the road as the protesters with the aid of a trailer blocked a section of the road.
According to the protesters, the suspect, Akolade Gbadebo, was allegedly shot last Thursday by one of the Amotekun corps, who was invited to the area to clear a road barricaded by some students.
Registering their displeasure on the incident, the protesters with placards with various inscriptions called on the state government to investigate the matter and called members of Amotekun Corp to order.
Some leaders of the Association who spoke with journalists accused officials of Amotekun Corp of involvement in circumstances that led to the death of Gbadebo.
The students were led by the NANS President, Oyo State Comrade Opakunle Mayowa and the Student Union Government (SUG) President, UI chapter, Comrade Akeju Olusegun.
The student leaders said they had reported the case at the Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, as well as met with the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of CID who told them the case was reported as robbery and cultism.
Responding to the allegations made by the students, the Special Assistant to Governor Makinde on students Matters, Mr Olojede Victor, said the government has been briefed on the incident urging the students to exercise restraint and allow for proper investigation on the matter.
He also enjoined the students to trust the system under Governor Makinde adding that the state government is awaiting comprehensive report of the matter before taking any decision.
A source privy to the incident said the situation that led to the death of the 400-level student of the University of Ibadan affiliated with Federal College of Education; Oyo (special) was that of suspected cultism and armed robbery.
The source said the incident involved some shot-out between some suspected cultist and the Amotekun operative as the Amotekun officers invited to the scene escaped gunshot but that the victim only fell to superior firepower.
When contacted, the Information Officer of Amotekun in Oyo State, Mrs. Ayolola Adedoja said the allegations against the operative was not true.
– The Nation
