By The Ogun Police Command had earlier denied that no student was shot by its men on Thursday when the incident happened, adding that the only student who was wounded was hit by tear gas canisters as he made to throw a stone at the policemen drafted to quell the riot. The 100 level student, Taiwo Abisoye, from Forestry and Widlife management was reportedly shot by a trigger-happy police officer during the peaceful protest.
However, an eyewitness, Ademola Olayinka, said a senior officer allegedly gave an order to shoot the protester.
“At the Camp junction, a senior police officer allegedly gave an order to his men to shoot at the students. I approached them that saying only tear gas should be used not gun but this advice was not taken.
“Suddenly convoys of mobile police officers coming from Oyo state came in firing at the mob. This act provoked the students the more. During this confrontation, the Mopol’s ADC by rank shot Taiwo, who collapsed after been hit by the bullet.”
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Ogun State chapter, Seun Opaleye, also accused the police for shooting a Funaabite and distupting their peaceful protest.
“We join with thousands of Funaabites and progressive comrades in condemning the unprofessional attitude exhibited by the police officer who earn his daily money from tax payers money. The persistent shooting of innocent Nigeria students by trigger-happy police officers, who were trained to protect lives and properties of Nigerians is a national issue that require urgent attention of stakeholders to proffer long lasting solution in order to forestall future occurrence.”
He also condemned the statement of the Special Assistant to Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Youths matters, Mr Clement Olusegun, who claimed that no student was shot in the head by the Police.
“We refuse to subscribe to the fallacious statement by Mr Clement Olusegun, a Special Assistant to Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Youths matters that Taiwo was not shot with a live bullet, that he was injured by tear gas canister in the course of the protest.”
“We pray for quick recovery of Taiwo Abisoye on UCH bed where he’s currently undergoing treatment, may Almighty God revive him and punish the blood thirsty officer that shot him unjustly,” he added.
Another tweet by an eyewitness showed blood on the protest ground and an empty shell casing beside it. The injured student was said to have been discharged from the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, where he was taken to after the incident. He had since been transferred to the University College Hospital in Ibadan, the Oyo State’s capital.
