YORUBA NATION RALLY : POLICE DENIES KILLING TEENAGER AS ACTIVIST CONDEMNS POLICE HANDLING OF PROTEST.

By Mike ALADENIKA.

The Lagos state police command has refuted the news making the rounds that a teenage trader was killed during the Yoruba Nation mega rally in Lagos. 

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, denied the report in a statement, saying the Police “did not fire a single live bullet at Ojota rally today”.

Various monitored reports say a female trader was killed by a stray bullet as police officers tried to quell the protest that held in Ojota area of the state.

Eyewitness reports also allege that some police officers fired live rounds in a desperate attempt to control the situation. 

SP Muyiwa Adejobi, said “the attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a news making rounds that a 14 year-old girl was hit and killed by police bullet today 3rd July, 2021 at the venue of the Oodua Republic Mega Rally in Ojota, Lagos.”

“The Command hereby wishes to debunk the rumour and state categorically that it’s a calculated attempt to create confusion and fears in the minds of the good people of Lagos State and the country at large.”

“The Command did not fire a single live bullet at Ojota rally today. The said corpse was found wrapped and abandoned at a distance, far from Ojota venue of the rally, behind MRS Filling Station, inward Maryland, on the other side of the venue, with dried blood stains suggesting that the corpse is not fresh. After a close look at the corpse, a wound suspectedly sustained from a sharp object was seen on it.”

SP Muyiwa Adejobi  disclosed that“the news is false and mischievous. The Command therefore urges the general public to disregard the news and go about their lawful normal daily activities while investigation to unravel the incident will commence immediately. The Commissioner of Police,Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, therefore commiserates with the family of the found deceased and assures that thorough investigation will be carried out.”

Meanwhile,  Nigerian human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore has reacted to the killing of a 14-year-old by a stray bullet at Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos.

The rally held in the Ojota area of Lagos state on Saturday with protesters defying security operatives’ presence and orders.

The teenage girl, who is a yoghurt hawker, was said to have been shot dead by stray bullets from security operatives as they tried to disperse Yoruba agitators.

Reacting, Sowore said the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, must be held liable for the death of the girl.

Sowore, while throwing his weight behind the protest, urged those protesting at the Yoruba Nation rally not to give up but stand their ground.

“Oduduwa Rally is in progress! No one should be afraid of Muhammadu Buhari and his security agents! Stand your ground, Enough is enough!, Sowore was quoted as saying. 

SPARKNEWSNAIJA reliably gathered that  armed Security operatives earlier surrounded the rally venue with armour tanks before the arrival of the agitators on Saturday.

 Reports say "the protesters later arrived at the venue with placards, singing, and chanting were dispersed with water cannon.

The rally however got rowdy as members of the police force engage in sporadic gunshots and teargas shots.

Sympathisers at the scene crowded the lifeless body of the unknown girl.

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