No fewer than two people were killed in Ojoo area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital while many people injured on Tuesday when protesters set part of Ojoo police station, Ibadan ablaze.
Eyewitness told Daily Trust in Ibadan that the fracas started when police approached the protesters to unblock the road in front of their station but the protesters told them it was a national protest against their misdeed.
The source said in their quest to forcefully unblock the road, the police were attacked and that was what led to the crisis which claimed lives of the two people.
Correspondents in Ibadan report that many police stations including area commands were put under luck and key.
Daily Trust reports that Apata and Iyaganku area command, Omi-adio police station, Mokola and Agodi were all lucked up.
Following the crisis, the State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde deployed combined forces of the state security group codenamed “Operation Burst” to major junctions in the state to maintain law and order.
Makinde in an emergency broadcast ordered immediate closure of schools in Ibadan for the rest of the week to ensure students are safe in the custody of their parents.
The governor said as he promised, the Director of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Oyo State, has withdrawn cases against End SARS protesters, saying “those in police custody have been released.”
“Also, the Oyo State Government has set up platforms for reporting past and present incidents of police brutality and injustice. This will naturally pave the way for the next steps in our quest to get justice for the victims. I urge the good people of Oyo State to trust the process that we have set up and rest assured that every case will be pursued to a logical conclusion.
“I have directed that all schools in Ibadan, should be closed from tomorrow, Wednesday, October 21 2020 for the rest of this week. The situation will be reviewed on Friday, October 23 2020, and then further directives will be given. Please call 615 should anyone attempt to disrupt your legitimate business activities.
“We will continue to seek ways to engage with peaceful protesters. Our plan is that in the shortest possible time, we can finally say the days of large-scale and wanton police brutality and injustice is a thing of the past. Let me also use this opportunity to call on members of the Nigeria Police Force to remain professional in the discharge of their duties as they will be held responsible for their actions.”
All the efforts to get the reactions of the state police Public Relations Officer, Olugbenga Fadeyi proved abortive as he refused to pick his calls.
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