A fresh incident in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has reportedly left about three persons dead from police gunshots on Sunday.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, was said to have also escaped lynching by angry youths who attacked the Soun’s palace during his visit to Ogbomoso on Sunday.
The youths were said to have angrily stormed the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso while Dare was meeting with the monarch, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewunmi, over the recent killing of a young man, Jimoh Isiaq, by the police during Saturday’s EndSARS protest in the city.
The minister had confirmed the incident in a tweet, but did not make mention of the alleged fresh killings.
Dare tweeted, “Ogbomoso- Hoodlums, thugs and miscreants disrupt stakeholders meeting in Soun’s palace now -invading, stoning and breaking doors, glasses. Soun, myself, and council chiefs were scurried into safety by the police and Department of State Services.
“The hoodlums broke into the palace and destroyed chairs, overturned tables, broke windows. These were not youth or Students. These were miscreants and thugs who saw a window of opportunity in the protest which (was) since abated. Thankfully, Soun, the chiefs, leaders of Parapo are safe.
“Ogbomoso youths are law-abiding. But hoodlums have taken over. A combined team of operation Burst from Ibadan and a unit from Ilorin are now on ground in Ogbomoso to help keep the peace, protect the peaceful and innocent and also stop criminal elements. Soun of Ogbomosho yesterday and today personally appealed to this group to stop the violence.”
The Soun of Ogbomoso had also confirmed the incident in a statement by his Secretary, Toyin Ajamu.
Ajamu said, “We had been trying to appease the protesters since morning. The protesters, who introduced themselves as students, came to the palace on Saturday and we addressed them. We learned that one person died in the process.
“Today, some of the aggrieved youth set to burn fire at the various junction leading to the police station. To prevent the matter from degenerating, Kabiyesi directed some of his chiefs to appease the protesters but they started stoning whoever came their way and threw tyres into the station.
“The Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare visited the palace shortly before the attack on the palace while returning from the visit to the family of the deceased. They shattered windscreens of vehicles in the palace, vandalised the palace and burnt down a motorcycle.
“We were only saved because there were burglar proofs on the windows. Nobody was injured but about 10 vehicles were vandalised, including the vehicle of Chairman. Christian Association of Nigeria, Ogbomoso North Zone, Rev. Tayo Adeyanju. The police were running for dear life so they couldn’t respond on time.
“Luckily, Kabiyesi escaped because the meeting was being held at the dining section and not the sitting room. The protesters were not able to get to where the meeting was being held.”
Supposed videos from the incident posted on Twitter showed some lifeless bodies on the street.
