A young man identity not yet known) was feared dead in Ogbomoso on Saturday during the EndSARS protest that turned violent in the town.
The Oyo State Police Command has, however, denied the alleged killing of the protester with an explanation that the police repelled the protesters with a teargas.
An online video showed a young man who was shot being whisked to the hospital with blood stain on the lower part of his stomach by the protesters.
The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Nwachukwu Enwonwu, said in a statement made available to journalists that the hitherto peaceful protest was upset by some hoodlums who seized the opportunity to attack a police station in the town.
Enwonwu, in the statement titled, ‘Re-Police kill protester in Ogbomoso,’ said, “The attention of the police has been drawn to the trending story/video that has been widely circulated on social media today (Saturday) that police killed a protester in Ogbomoso during the EndSARS protest.
“The CP wishes to state that the police allowed the protesters to express their feelings during the protest and they were not hindered in any form until when they started throwing stones into the police premises and attempted to gain entrance into the premises.
“The police in turn used tear gas to disperse them from gaining entrance into the Owode Ogbomoso Area Command/Police Station to disperse them and preventing them from gaining entrance and attacking the station. The police did not fire a shot or kill any protester as widely circulated.
“The CP in his earlier press release had sought for collaborations of parents/guardian, religious and community leaders, leaders of thought etc. to appeal to the angry youths to exercise patience and give the police some time to properly reform SARS.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has expressed worries on the reported attack of the EndSARS protesters in Ogbomoso.
The Minister reportedly urged the police not to deny the youth the right of expression, saying that the report on the injured person should be provided.
Dare, who demanded for the comprehensive police report on the incident, urged the youth to conduct themselves peacefully during the rally.
