Students at the state-owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, protested the murder of one of their colleagues, who was reportedly assassinated by a member of the state security organisation called Amotekun. Business and commercial operations were suspended in both Owo town and Akure, the state capital of Ondo.
Folarera Ademola, the victim, was an ND1 student in the Science Laboratory Technology department of the institution.
After a two-hour demonstration in Owo town, the students travelled to Akure, the state capital, with the body, which they used to block Rotimi Akeredolu’s governor’s office.
They protested at the palace of the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, before heading to Akure, the state capital.
They barred the governor’s office door and issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the “state government to hand over the said officer to the Nigerian police for proper prosecution, take charge of the deceased’s Burial, and compensate the family.”
Students’ Union President Olorunda Oluwafemi told the media that the boy was shot by an Amotekun officer in front of his parents’ house on June 27th.
According to Oluwafemi, the deceased sustained gunshot wounds for 10 days before being transported to the federal medical centre in Owo, where he died on Thursday.
Chief Adetunji Adeleye, the state commander of Amotekun, responded quickly, expressing his dismay and regret at the student’s death.
Adeleye stated that “in its avowed determination to ensure that Ondo State is free of criminal elements, the state Amotekun Corps is investigating the case of a syndicate that specialises in attacking Okada riders with dangerous weapons and dispossessing them of their motorcycles in the process.”
“Luck, on the other hand, ran out of one of the syndicates who was chased into a building in Owo by men of the Amotekun Corps, where other members of the gang met 15 men in the building, 7 of whom were stacked naked inside the smoke-filled room.” Four Okadas were also discovered in the bedroom.
“After meeting the men, the men struggled to disarm the operative whose alarm drew the other two outside.”
“In an attempt to apprehend the suspect, they swung on men of the Corps, attempting to disarm them, and during the struggle, one of their riffles triggered and struck one of the suspects and an Amotekun officer.”
“At the time, none of them disclosed to Amotekun officers that they were students.”
“Our men eventually overpowered the suspects, arrested them, and detained them at the Corps Office in Owo.” The incident occurred on June 27th and 28th, 2022.
‘”He was later released on medical grounds, promising to return to corps custody to continue the investigation.”
“The suspect left our facility on the same day, 11 days after the incident, to receive first aid treatment, with the promise to return to assist with the investigation.”
“Surprisingly, news of the death of the injured suspect’s filtered yesterday, 11 days after the incident.”
“We sincerely express our condolences to the deceased’s family and friends as we continue our in-depth and thorough investigation into the true cause of his death.”
Adeleye stated, “The Ondo State Amotekun Corps, however, wishes to assure the public that it will work with stakeholders such as NANS, the Polytechnic Community, and the victim’s family to ensure that justice is served in a timely manner.”