Ekiti students protest, demand justice for corps member ‘killed by police’

The Federation of Ekiti State Students’ Union (FESSU), on Tuesday, protested after a corps member from Ekiti was allegedly gunned down by a police officer in Ogbomoso, Oyo.

Last week, students of Ladoke Akintola University Of Technology (LAUTECH) called out a police officer for allegedly firing shots at some of their colleagues who were celebrating their graduation.

Damilola Iyanda, the deceased corps member serving in Ibadan, was said to have attended the convocation party of Oluwafemi Iyanda, his brother, when the incident happened.

Oluwafemi said his brother was confirmed dead at the LAUTECH teaching hospital.

“We were at a lounge in the Under-G area for a convocation party around 2am when we heard that some people were fighting outside,” Iyanda was quoted as saying.

“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.”

Benjamin Adekunle, FESSU national president, called for an investigation into the killing of the corps member with a view to bringing the perpetrator to justice.

Adekunle led FESSU members to the Ekiti state house of assembly complex in Ado Ekiti.

Members of the union carried placards and sang solidarity songs in a peaceful protest to demand justice over the killing of the corps member.

Adekunle said the protest was to call the attention of Adeoye Aribasoye, Ekiti state assembly speaker, to ensure the family of the deceased is compensated.

“We demand a swift investigation into this matter and the culprit should be brought to book. We demand for compensation for the family of the deceased,” he said.

“We also demand comprehensive medical treatment for his brother who sustained a gunshot injury. He is at home and his health is deteriorating.

“We demand an end to police brutality in Nigeria. Police should be our friend, save us and not kill us.

“We have come to the House of Assembly today to speak with the Speaker to liaise with his counterpart in Oyo State for swift justice for Iyanda Damilola and Iyanda Oluwafemi.

“They are from Ekiti State and raised and brought up in Ogotun Ekiti.”

Reacting to the protest, Aribasoye condemned the “unprofessionalism of the police officer who allegedly murdered the corps member”, describing it as “senseless”.

“We express our condolences to the family and we condemn the killing and unprofessionalism of the police officer who murdered one of us, a youth from Ekiti State who is also serving his fatherland in cold blood,” he said.

“We condemn it and the House will be sitting. We will have a position during our plenary. Our resolutions will be passed and I know the House will condemn it. It is so unfortunate his life was cut short.”