Footballer’s Death: Five feared dead, others injured during protest in Sagamu

A protest took place on Monday in Sagamu town by youths following the killing of Assistant Captain of Remo Football Club, Kazeem Tiamiyu popularly called Kaka by Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS,on Saturday.

Penpushing reports that, the protest, however, turned sour as five persons were feared killed and others injured when police allegedly repelled the violent protest, which spread to some parts of the town, as the protesters alleged the police of incessant brutality and indiscriminate arrests, citing example of the late promising footballer.

However, former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba  Gbenga took time to pacify the protesting youths, and succeeded in calming them, to avoid bloodshed, while in the same vein, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Funmu Efuwape and  a member of the House of Representatives representing Remo Federal Constituency, Mrs Adewunmi Onanuga, were sighted at the scene also to appeal to the protesters.

Penpushing reports that, in a swift response, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Kenneth Ebrimson denied the policemen opened fire on protesters, insisting the cops resisted the use of force despite provocation from miscreants who took advantage of the protest.

“Not a single bullet was fired by policemen. I am in Sagamu as I speak to you.We have since addressed the protesters and calmed them down. They dispersed quietly.What happened is that some miscreants tried to take opportunity of the protest to cause trouble in the state.

“They were the ones who tried to burn down the police station but we dispersed them. We did not fire any shot despite the provocation from them. We know some people were trying to push the police to the wall so that they will say see what has happened. That was why there was strict instruction on the men not to use force.

“We have taken control of the situation. The responsible protesters were addressed and assured that the team that arrested the footballer was already in detention and undergoing internal disciplinary actions.

“We did not arrest anyone because as it is, we are applying diplomacy to avoid escalating issues.We have said it before that the policemen that arrested him are not SARS operatives. They were of the Zonal Intervention Squad and have been arrested,” he said.

Penpushing also reports that, the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of Zone II comprising Lagos and Ogun States, Ahmed Iliyasu, has condemned the incident that led to Tiamiyu’s death assuring that the matter would be duly investigated.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police, commiserated with the family of the deceased footballer, Remo natives and Ogun State in general, and sued for calm, adding that the cops involved were already undergoing orderly room trial.

Penpushing reports that, Iliyasu warned that officers found wanting in the discharge of their police duties would be sanctioned appropriately, stressing, “I will not tolerate any act of indiscipline, unprofessionalism, indolence and disregards to human rights and the rule of law by officers and men of the two commands under my watch.

“We assure all citizens of the two states continuous protection of life and property as enshrined in all our extant laws. The Ogun State Police Commissioner has commenced investigation into the incident,” he said.