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The leadership of Ondo Ekimogun Youth Congress(OEYC) decry killings of unharmed youths by policemen of the Yaba Divisional and Ondo Area Command. What started as a peaceful protest last week with full cooperation of the Ondo Area Command turned violent as a result of breach of trust by the men of the Nigerian Police Force.
In his address sent to Ekimogun Decide, Comrade Kenneth Adegeye- Coordinator II of the newly formed caretaker committe decry the killings and says the singular act bad breached peace efforts earlier initiated with the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association in Ondo West LGA to ensure bornfires are removed from the intra city roads and protest limited to federal roads which was highly successful on Tuesday the 20th October, 2020 and subsequent intention of maintaining peace in the advent of declaration of a curfew which eventually happened.
It is disheartening that same police officers whom the protesting youths had cordial relationship with during protests which started last week Tuesday suddenly turned on them when an arranged address by the DPO of the Yaba Division on Wednesday 21st October, 2020 turned violent when a stray bullet allegedly fired by a policeman - one Mr Mustapha hit an onlooker about two hundred metres away from the gate of the Area Command opposite Olaniyan junction.
This singular act of distrust broke the cordial relationship the peaceful protesters had with the policemen who they had shared foods and drinks with at the venue of the protest at Akure Park Roundabout. This also disrupted the behind the scene peace actions started by the leadership of OEYC despite our earlier press release that we are uninterested in the protest as the Federal Government through the Inspector General Of Police had pronounced the disbandment of the Police Special Anti Robbery Squad-SARS. But we cannot fold our arms and leave the protest to the teeming youths who see this struggle not just as a protest against police brutality but rather against the economic hardship of our present reality of skyrocketed prices of foodstuffs, petrol pump price and many other bottled-up grievances against oppression as a result of unfavorable government actions.
The Osemawe, Oba Dr Victor Ademefun Kiladejo Jilo III had earlier on Wednesday after the initial shooting taken actions to douse tension and maintain existence of peace in the community when he addressed the Market women through Chief Wole Benson and notable youth leaders such as two former youth presidents- Comrade Fela Akinmoladun & Comrade Lawrence Adefolaju and Comrade Kenneth Adegeye & Olufemi Olukemi Coordinator II and Treasurer respectively of the newly constituted caretaker committee to see to the affairs of youths in the kingdom. The market women who agitated they will not seat and watch while their children are being killed were percified to look at the bigger picture and join the youths to douse the tensed young protesters by encouraging them to leave the police station to avoid having more casualties; the Osemawe equally sent out Chiefs to percify members of the community and engaged the Area Commander to ensure people are not being killed.
We condemn in strong terms the killings so far and despite all appreciate the efforts of good police officers in protection of lives and property.
We encourage our youths to leave the environ of the police station at Yaba as efforts are made already to ensure conmesurate justice is well served and affected families duely compensated and percified by stakeholders concerned. We will ensure justice is served but we need now to avoid more casualties and not take laws into our hands.
We thank political leaders such as Baba Joseph Akinlaja, Hon. Jibayo Adeyeye & Mama Lola Fagbemi; Dr Nelson Osungbemiro- member of the Youth Advisory Committed, Comrades Felix Akinmoladun, Lawrence Adefolaju, Olufemi Olukemi, Laolu Olabode, Joseph Josakin and Comrade Sola Akinbinu for their efforts so far for peaceful resolution of the crisis and conflict.
We specially thank health officers who had been attending to injured protesters.
Victory is certain at all times.
Justice shall be served.