Students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo state on Friday took the corpse of Folarera Ademola, an ND1 student of the Department of Science Laboratory Technology who was allegedly killed by an officer of the Amotekun corps, to the Governor’s office in Akure.
The students had earlier on Friday retrieved the body of the deceased from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo.
The protesting students have also given the state government a 24-hour ultimatum to hand over the said officer to the Nigeria police for proper prosecution, take charge of the deceased burial, and compensate the family.
Speaking on behalf of the students, the Students’ Union President, Olorunda Oluwafemi, alleged that the boy was shot on the 27th of June by an officer of the Amotekun Corps at his house.
Oluwafemi added that the deceased was with gunshot wounds for 10 days before he was taken to the FMC, Owo, where he died yesterday (Thursday).
The protesting students said their protest would be brought to the attention of the Palace of Olowo before taking the protest to the office of Amotekun in Akure and the Governor’s office to further express their grievance.
RE: DEATH OF RUGIPO STUDENTS – Ondo Amotekun
Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network “Amotekun Corps” and Office of the Governor’s Special Adviser on Security Matter have received with dismay and sadness the death news of a Student of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo allegedly shot by one of the Amotekun men in Owo during an operation.
It is necessary for the Corps to explain to the public what transpired few days ago that led to the unfortunate death of the student.
In its avowed determination to ensure that Ondo State is rid of criminal elements, the state Amotekun Corps is investigating the case of a syndicate that specializes in attacking Okada riders with dangerous weapons and dispossess them of their motorcycles in the process.
Luck however ran out of one of the syndicates who was given a hot chase into a building in Owo by men of the Amotekun Corps where other members of the gang were met 15 men in the building, 7 out of the men stacked naked in side the room filled with smoke. And four Okadas were also fund in side the bedroom.
After introducing themselves to the men, the men struggled disarm the operative who alarm attracted the other two outside.
In an attempt to apprehend the suspect, they swung on men of the Corps, trying to disarm them and in the course of the struggle, one of their riffles triggered off and hit one of the suspect and an Amotekun officer.
At that instance non of them told Amotekun officers that they were students.
According to the State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, his men eventually overpowered the suspects, arrested and took them to the Corps Office in Owo where they were detained while investigation was continues.
According to him, the incident occurred on 27th and 28th of June, 2022.
‘He was released to him on health ground, promising to return him to the corps custody so as to continue investigation
“The suspect left our facility on same day, 11 days after the incident to get first aid treatment with the promise to return in continuation of the investigation.
Surprisingly, the news of the dead injured suspect’s filtered yesterday after 11 days the incident occurred..
We sincerely register our Condolences to the family and friends of the deceased while we continue with our indepth and thorough investigation to the real cause of his death.
The Ondo State Amotekun Corps, however wishes to assure the public that it will work with stakeholders including NANS, the Polytechnic Community and family of the victim to ensure that justice is timely served.
The Corps promised that it would not relent in its avowed determination to protect the residents of Ondo State in collaboration with other security agencies and sanitize the state of criminal elements terrorizing the state.
