By Ahmed Ajikobi
An EndSARS protest in Kwara State yesterday turned violent as one of the demonstrators was reportedly killed at post area areas Ilorin, National Pilot learnt.
The protest which was said to have started around 12:00pm lasted for more than two hours and saw three others protesters hospitalised at MUSJIB hospital, Offa Garage area, Ilorin.
The name of one of the victims that was admitted to the facility was given as Sherifdeen Olawale.
Trouble reportedly started when some group of protesters in black outfit suspected to be cultists started chasing people around with cutlasses and axes before they descended on the deceased and hacked him to death.
Sources and eyewitnesses who confirmed the incident and death to National Pilot last said cultists have taken the opportunity of the protest to settle scores among themselves adding that the state might witnessed a reprisal attack in the coming day if the care is not taken.
One of the eyewitnesses who claimed anonymity narrated what transpired to this medium:
“The attack started from the overhead bridge. The group of the protesters with black shirts and trousers wielding axes and cutlasses, attack some of the protesters.
“People took to their heels to run for their dear lives as it became a pandemonium. I was there when they hacked the victim to death with their axe and I have run. He died at the sport”, he added
Speaking to our reporter on the development, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun said he is not aware of any killing adding that, the only report he got was that some of the protesters were trying to loot shops at post office area but were promptly resisted by the shop owners.
“There has neither been any negative report from the protesters nor the citizens in the course of the protests. However, today’s protests as peaceful as it was at the beginning witnessed a hitch towards the end when some of the protesters attempted to loot shops at Post office area but were promptly resisted by the shop owners.
“Police didn’t arrest any protesters in the course of the incident as the shop owners stood up to them. It’s even dangerous at this period to arrest any protester because they can such action against the police.
Meanwhile, some police officers have been arrested by the Kwara command over alleged extortion and harassment of protesters.
The affected officers, it was gathered, include one Friday, a popular police CPS of “F” Division Police station, Tanke and others.
Their arrest was confirmed by Egbetokun last night adding it came on the heels of allegations from the protesters level against the police officers.
It was learnt that the said Friday and other officers from the division are currently under investigation over the allegations.
The protesters alleged that the officer, Friday and others has been terrorising the member of the public along Tanke area including the students.
Egbetokun however said the complaint against them is on social media adding that it was on social media we the command is getting the allegations levelled against the officers.
“Nobody has come forward to really tell us what Friday has done. People should come out to tell us concrete and specific things he has done.
“People are just shouting on social media. I want specific things the man has done but we are yet to see anybody that will say things against him. They are just saying he is a terror.”
He explained that the command action is guided by law. “If the people making this allegations don’t come forward to substantiate their allegations, how are we going to know the truth of the matter.
The command had since released a statement through the PPRO, SP Ajayi Okasanmi on the development posted on his tweeter handle.
“Hello everyone, Officer Friday of F Division Tanke and other officers mentioned for inappropriate acts by protesters are currently undergoing investigation in response to all the allegations against them. the CP in Kwara will stop at nothing to ensure the rights of the citizens are respected while erring officers would be made to face orderly trial and be punished if found culpable and the reports will be made public. Police remains your friend.”
The post however generated sharp reactions from Kwarans on tweeter.
