Lady shot dead as Yoruba nation agitators defy heavy police presence in Lagos (photos)

A girl of about 14 years old was allegedly shot dead on Saturday morning by security operatives at the Ojota area of Lagos State, as the agitators for the Yoruba Nation stormed the area for a scheduled rally, defying heavy security presence.

Ripples Nigeria reported that there was a heavy security presence at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, where the proposed rally was supposed to hold, as security operatives flooded the venue from early morning, to prevent any form of rally by the agitators.

Also, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, had visited the venue, boosted the morale of the operatives, and reiterated the need for peace in the state.

However, despite the heavy presence of armed policemen and soldiers around the Park, the agitators trooped out in their numbers, chanting different freedom songs, including, “No going back,” “We want Oodua Nation,” among others.

The agitators had started trooping out at about 11.20 am while Odumosu was addressing journalists at the venue, saying that no rally was allowed in Lagos.

Some of the agitators who spoke to newsmen expressed that it was time to have a separate nation of Yoruba ethnicity, as they have nothing in common with the other ethnic groups in Nigeria.

However, as the agitators began the rally, some gunshots were fired by policemen at the venue, even as some of the agitators dared the security operatives by spreading banners and flyers.

A few minutes later, more shots were fired; while water was sprayed from an armoured tank to disperse the agitators.

Meanwhile, some of the agitators were seen, being dragged into an armoured tank by the police operatives.

It was later discovered that a girl of about 14 years old, identified as a hawker, whose name is yet to be known was gunned down.

READ ALSO: Lagos CP claims Yoruba Nation agitators planned to forcefully reopen Seme border

She was said to have been hit by a stray bullet some streets away from where the police and protesters were confronting one another.

Meanwhile, citizens and activists like the convener of the #RevolutionNow and #BuhariMustGo movements, Omoyele Sowore took to their Twitter handles to condemn the incident.

Sowore, using his official handle, tweeted, “Lagos state Commissioner of @PoliceNG Hakeem Odumosu must be held personally liable for the death of this innocent child! #BuhariMustGo #RevolutionNow.”

Lagos state Commissioner of @PoliceNG Hakeem Odumosu must be held personally liable for the death of this innocent child! #BuhariMustGo #RevolutionNow https://t.co/FeBZiGjMMZ

— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) July 3, 2021

Other tweets followed:

"Street Trader Killed As Police Shoot Live Bullets At Yoruba Nation Agitators In Lagos" @PoliceNG must stop shooting live bullet to innocent Nigerians do not plug Nigerians into war and anarchy. @FrontLineHRD @YarKafanchan @EPAMichaelRegan @hrw @YeleSowore @ayemojubar pic.twitter.com/zXQoIbA47I

— Arise Nigerian Youth (@Arise_NigerianY) July 3, 2021

At the #YorubaNationNow rally in Ojota Lagos, police fired live bullets, killing a young girl. Enough of this madness. This is the time when we all come out in unison against the bloodlust of this incompetent regime. #Revolutionnow #BuhariMustGo

— #Freekirikiri16 (@RevolutionNowNg) July 3, 2021

By Victor Uzoho

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now