One protester was killed in Ibadan when security operatives clashed with a group protesting against fuel shortages and new naira notes in the Apata area of the Oyo State capital.
Protests have taken place in several parts of the city since Friday as mostly young people expressed their frustration at the lack of support in the country. Similar shortages of naira notes and petrol are being experienced across Nigeria.
A group of protesters also stormed the Oyo State governor’s office on Saturday when security agencies tried to deny access to the governor.
On Saturday, soldiers and police officers were sent to the main areas where the protests were taking place.
However, the protesters in Apata refused to stop their protest when security officers approached them.
A commercial vehicle driver who requested anonymity for fear of becoming a victim told reporters that security officers fired in the air to intimidate protesters.
The source said, in the process, a bullet hit one person who was killed instantly, forcing others to run for safety.
“They are soldiers and policemen. They want to disperse the protestors, but the protesters still refuse to leave,” he said.
“At one point, we started hearing shots, they were shooting in the air, everyone had to run for safety. What I heard after that was a bullet that hit one person and he died instantly.
Adewale Osifeso, the police spokesman in the country, confirmed the incident.
Mr. Osifeso identified the deceased as a vigilante.
He said the body was kept at a government hospital for post-mortem.
“Amidst the furore, a person identified as a member of the vigilante group and who was reportedly killed in the fiasco has been kept at a government hospital for post-mortem,” he said.
The police spokesman said a group of criminals attacked security officers with guns, stones and other dangerous weapons while they were patrolling the area.
“Today, Saturday, 04/02/2023 at about 1015 hours, when starting a confidence building patrol around blackspots and flash points, a joint convoy patrol consisting of the Police and other agencies encountered a mob of thugs around Pasar Apata Junction, Apata Area in Ido Local Government area,” he said.
“In a somewhat surprising turn of events, the thugs who had perfected a plan to harass residents, harass shop owners and loot shops when they saw the joint security convoy launched a series of unprovoked attacks by firing guns, throwing stones, objects and other dangerous missiles. he” added .
“Trained officers, aware of the level of casualties that can be recorded if they are involved in the location, must be restrained and professionally take charge of the place while arresting the situation with force in accordance with standard operating procedures.”
But Mr Osifeso said normality had been restored in the area.
“Meanwhile, normalcy has returned to the area with the deployment of patrol teams and other tactical assets seen on the ground,” he said.
Support the integrity and credibility of PREMIUM TIMES journalism
Good journalism costs a lot of money. But only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, responsible democracy, and transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider making a modest contribution to this noble effort.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help keep journalism relevant and ensure it remains free and available to all.
contribute
AD TEXT: Call Willie – +2348098788999
