CITIZENS COMPASS– At least, one person has lost his life on Saturday, when protesters stormed some major areas in Ibadan, Oyo State, in continuation of protests against scarcity of new Naira notes across the country.
The deceased,a member of a vigilance group, reportedly died in the Apata area following a clash between suspected hoodlums and security operatives.
He has since been deposited at a government hospital for post-mortem.
The protests which happened across the major cities of the state grounded activities as youths carrying placards expressing their grievances on scarcity of new Naira notes.
The protests began on Friday, February, 3, 2023.
Citizens Compass learnt that the incident occurred when men of the Oyo State Police Command in collaboration with sister security agencies embarked on joint patrols simultaneously across the nook and crannies of the state to forestall breaking down of law and order.
However, this went sour as the vigilante man lost his life when some hoodlums hijacked the protests and attacked security operatives.
Their mission was to dissuade persons intent on hijacking the protests that rocked different parts of the state on Friday.
It was gathered that the crisis started early Saturday morning when the operatives arrived at the Apata market junction.
An eye witness which pleaded anonymity said, “Everyone ran for their lives; some lay on the floor to prevent stray bullets,”
The eyewitness added that there was also a female casualty who is currently receiving treatment at the Lafia Hospital in the NNPC area.
Efforts to reach the state command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Adewale Osifeso, for comments on the alleged shootout proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.
