Two killed, four arrested as Yoruba Nation agitators hold rally in Lagos

The Yoruba Nation agitators rally on Monday recorded a sad development as two persons were allegedly shot dead by policemen in Ojota area of Lagos State, following a fracas said to have occurred at the venue.

Penpushing reports that in a video being circulated on social media showed a lifeless body on the road, while it is also recalled that the Yoruba Nation group had planned to hold a “Super Mega” rally in Ojota to continue their demand for a separate Yoruba country from south-west Nigeria.

The police vehicles were also noticed in the video to have been set ablaze, while one of the protesters who identified himself as Sauti Igboro was seen vehemently protesting the killings, saying two of the group members have been shot dead by the police

Penpushing further reports that he declared that the group cannot fold its arm and see members being wasted with bullets by the police, threatening that the police station will be set ablaze in retaliation, and called on Sunday Igboho and Prof Banji Akintoye to come to their aid

‘I am Sauti Igboro, as you can see, police have killed two of our members. This is a war, and we won’t take it lightly with the police. We are going to set ablaze the police station. Sunday Igboho, Baba Akinloye please come to our aid’, he emphasized

Penpushing also reports that the chairman of Yoruba Self Determination Movement (YSDM), Banji Akintoye, claimed that the rally scheduled by its members was peaceful until the police approached them and killed two members of the group.

The Professor of History and senator in the Second Republic, and head of the, Ilana Omo Oodua, agitating for an independent Yoruba nation, explained that the purpose of the movement is to press for self-determination for the Yoruba nation.

“Our methods have always been peaceful, peaceful rally, no weapons, no violence of any kind. Not regarding the police as enemies, not regarding any other official of the Nigerian state as enemies’,Akintoye said.

‘Those are the conditions upon which the young men gathered this morning to carry out a rally. Even before they had settled down, as they were arriving at the center where they wanted to carry out the rally, the Nigeria police approached them and started shooting. The police are breaking the law. The right to self- determination is the right of the Yoruba people just as it is the right of every nationality in the world”, he stated

Penpushing reports that Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the death of one person, whose identity was yet unknown, and that was not killed by the police, adding that the group came out to disrupt normal activities and the police stepped in to prevent that.

The police spokesman said the Yoruba Nation members did not inform the police that they were going to hold a rally, stating that people called the police that some people were shooting and that was why the police had to go there immediately

“Yoruba Nation agitators came out to disrupt normal activities and the police stepped in to prevent that. People called the police that some people were shooting and that was why the police had to go there immediately. And even in the presence of the police they were shooting and even attacked the police and destroyed vehicles’, Hundeyin said.

Penpushing further reports that the police command said four “miscreants” have been arrested following the unrest, adding that they were arrested for attacking  the police, shooting, and destroyed two vehicles in the process

“In the early hours of today, miscreants masquerading as Yoruba Nation agitators came out in their hundreds, disrupting social and commercial activities in the Ojota area of the state. A team of police officers, comprising Alausa Division and the Raid Respond Squad (RRS) promptly stepped in to disperse the unlawful gathering and prevent a breakdown of law and order. The miscreants attacked the police, shooting, and destroyed two vehicles in the process”, he wrote

“Meanwhile, normalcy has been restored to the area. Lagosians are urged to go about their lawful businesses as measures have been put in place to prevent further breakdown of law and order; and keen monitoring of the situation continues’, Hundeyin stated.

“It is imperative to state unequivocally that the Lagos State Police Command will not allow any person or group of persons, under whatever guise, disrupt the peace currently enjoyed in the state. RRS officers and patrol vehicles were shot at by several pump-action-rifle-wielding miscreants”, he emphasised

Penpushing also reports that it is not clear as at the time of filing this report the role of Akintoye in the group as he was reported to have in December,2022   tendered his resignation letter from the body citing old age.

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