Students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo State, have demanded a probe into the alleged killing of a corp member, Damilola Iyanda, by a trigger-happy policeman on Tuesday.
This is just as the students decried the prolonged brutality allegedly meted out to them by the police officer in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday.
Chronicle NG had reported that a trigger-happy policeman allegedly shot a corps member identified as Iyanda Damilola to death in Ogbomoso Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.
It was gathered that an operative of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force was recognised by the students of the institution for alleged shooting.
The deceased’s brother, Oluwafemi Iyanda, who graduated from LAUTECH, told our correspondent on Tuesday that he sustained wounds from the bullet shots.
Oluwafemi, a graduate of Accounting and Management Sciences from the institution, narrated that the deceased was his brother who had attended his convocation, after which they headed for an after-party the same day where he was shot dead by the trigger-happy cop.
According to him, the late Damilola was serving in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
He said, “Yesterday was our convocation, and we were at a lounge in the Under-G area for a convocation party around 2 am when we heard that some people were fighting outside. When we discovered that the place was getting rowdy, we stepped out only to see policemen dispersing the crowd and shooting directly at the people.
“I sustained bullet wounds, but my brother, who came for my convocation, was shot in the head. He was confirmed dead at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and was taken to the mortuary this morning.
“As I speak with you, I am at the clinic for my treatment. The wounds are deep, and I cannot but seek justice for my innocent brother.”
Asked if he could recognise the policemen who came for the operation, Oluwafemi said he was sure of one operative, stressing that the cop led the team that dispersed the crowd.
“I saw him handling the gun; he was shooting with one hand until he shot my brother,” he alleged.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident generated palpable tension among the students who took to the streets to protest but shelved the protest so as not to disrupt the ongoing convocation activities.
An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, because he was authorised to speak, told newsmen that the students shut the gate of the institution, leading to a temporary delay in starting the grand finale of its 16th convocation ceremony on Tuesday.
The source said, “What happened was that the celebration at the Under-G area resulted in an argument and this led to a fracas. It was during the altercation that the security agent was invited to settle the matter by the owner of the hotel.
“While attempting to settle the matter, the officer reportedly shot sporadically into the air. It was during this period that a student was allegedly shot, while two others sustained injury.”
Reacting to the incident, a student, Michael Oladipupo, alleged that the trigger-happy policeman was in the habit of brutalising students. He, however, urged relevant authorities to investigate the incident and bring the officer to justice.
“We are sure that it was a member of the police team who killed the boy because students were present. This is not the first time this particular police officer is involved in brutalising students.
“The school should also join us to demand justice for those who were killed and injured yesterday. We also want the lounge where the incident happened to be probed,” Oladipupo said.
Another student, Muhiz Alaka, urged the state government to probe the killing, stressing that the death of Damilola could not have been a mistake.
“We want justice for our brother that we lost, we want everyone involved in his death to be brought to book. The Oyo State Government should intervene and prosecute the culprit. The school management has not said anything on the matter yet, but all we want is for the perpetrator to be brought to book.
