Police use gunshots, teargas,water cannons to disperse protesters, hawker allegedly shot dead

The Nigerian Police on Saturday used teargas, water cannons and  gunshots to disperse hundreds of Yoruba nation agitators who converged at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota Lagos State waving ‘Oduduwa nation’ flags and banners as well as clamouring for a ‘sovereign’ state.

Penpushing reports that in the course of gun shot, a spray bullet allegedly hit a 24 year old hawker  identified simply as Jumoke, in the back and her lifeless body  was reportedly taken away by the police.

The deceased girl  and others were running when police started firing into the air,while a witness added that said the bullet hit her inside the compound and her corpse was brought out thereafter.

Penpushing further reports that the  police took the action shortly after Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu addressed journalists at emphasinsing that  the police were there to ensure there was no “security breach” in the state.

“We are not saying you should not protests, we want you to send a detailed letter to the police stating the number and identities of the protesters. Also, the location should be in the letter,” Odumosu  said.

Penpushing also reports that the police boss said the protesters  letter received by the command was “open-ended.”while findings also showed as at the time of filing this report that two of the agitators were  arrested along the Ketu exit point in Ojota.

The duo comprising a man and a woman , were arrested during a stop and search operation for purportedly decorating their blue Toyota Highlander vehicle with a Yoruba nation banner,and they were subsequently  taken away in a police vehicle.

Penpushing reports that, traditionalists were not left out in the rally, as they joined hundreds of protesters to compliment the agitation for Yoruba nation, and seen dressed in the traditional regalia.

The police however denied responsibility in the death of  girl describing reports blaming the police for the death as an attempt to create confusion and fears in the minds of the people of Lagos State and the country at large.

Penpushing further reports that, the Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi in a statement said the police did not fire a single live bullet, adding that the said corpse was found wrapped and abandoned as a distance far from the venue of the protest

“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”.Adejobi said

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