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…Hold Lagos CP Responsible For Death Of 14-Year Old Hit By Stray Bullet -Sowore
…Our Bullet Did Not Hit Her –Police
One person has been confirmed dead by police stray bullet at the Yoruba nation rally, Ojota, Lagos.
The protest, which started with singing and chanting, got rowdy as members of the police force engage in sporadic gunshots and teargas shots.
The lifeless body of the unknown girl was crowded by sympathisers at the scene.
“She didn’t go outside. It was straw bullet from the protest that killed her”, some persons in the video said in vernacular.
Yoruba Nation protesters had taken to the streets of Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos, where the rally was scheduled to hold.
Although there was heavy security presence at the venue, the State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, had said Nigerians have the right to peaceful protests, and they would ensure that the protest was not hijacked by hoodlums.
However, reports of security operatives dispersing crowds with teargas and water had already begun making rounds on social media.
Meanwhile, Nigerian human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore has reacted to the killing of a 14-year-old by a stray bullet at Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos.
Reacting, Sowore said the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, must be held liable for the death of the girl.
On his Twitter page, he wrote: “Lagos state Commissioner of @PoliceNG Hakeem Odumosu must be held personally liable for the death of this innocent child!”
Sowore, while throwing his weight behind the protest, urged those protesting at the Yoruba Nation rally not to give up but stand their ground.
“Oduduwa Rally is in progress! No one should be afraid of Muhammadu Buhari and his security agents! Stand your ground, Enough is enough.
Also, the Lagos State Police Command has denied responsibility for the death 14-year-old yoghurt seller at Ojota
The police were alleged to have a fired a live bullet which killed the girl while they were trying to disperse Yoruba Nation Protesters at the place.
But the Police Command in a statement by its spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi claimed its men did not use live bullets and that the teenager may have died of a wound from a sharp object found on her body.
The statement read:
“The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a news making rounds that a 14 year-old girl was hit and killed by police bullet today 3rd July, 2021 at the venue of the Oodua Republic Mega Rally in Ojota, Lagos.
“The Command hereby wishes to debunk the rumour and state categorically that it’s a calculated attempt to create confusion and fears in the minds of the good people of Lagos State and the country at large.
“The Command did not fire a single live bullet at Ojota rally today. The said corpse was found wrapped and abandoned at a distance, far from Ojota venue of the rally, behind MRS Filling Station, inward Maryland, on the other side of the venue, with dried blood stains suggesting that the corpse is not fresh. After a close look at the corpse, a wound suspectedly sustained from a sharp object was seen on it.
“The news is false and mischievous. The Command therefore urges the general public to disregard the news and go about their lawful normal daily activities while investigation to unravel the incident will commence immediately. The Commissioner of Police,Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, therefore commiserates with the family of the found deceased and assures that thorough investigation will be carried out.
“The Command equally wishes to warn against the spread or peddling of fake and unconfirmed stories as such could be dangerous and counterproductive.”
