The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has accused Security Agency, Amotekun, in Oyo State, of killing a 400-level student of the University of Ibadan.
Mayowa Opakunle, The NANS Joint Campus Committee Chairman in Oyo State, made this claims during an interview in Ibadan, on Wednesday.
According to Opakunle, the victim, Akolade Gbadebo, was shot dead by one of the Amotekun corps, last Thursday.
Opakunle stated that the security outfit were invited to the area to clear a road-block by some students of the University.
He stated that Gbadebo was shot dead by officials of the security outfit in a matter of minutes after they arrived the scene.
Opakunle confirmed that he and other student union leaders immediately reported the killing to the Criminal Investigation Department at Iyaganku in Ibadan, on Monday.
The NANS chairman also stated that he met with the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of CID, at Iyaganku, who then informed him that the case was reported as ‘robbery and cultism’.
“A 400 Level student of University of Ibadan affiliated with Federal College of Education, Oyo (special); Akolade Gbadebo, was shot dead by a member of the Amotekun corps last Thursday,” Opakunle said.
Read also: Commotion Ensues As Amotekun Kills 2 Persons In Open Fire
“I was told that Amotekun corps were called that some students barricaded the road in the area. They came and somebody was said to have fired at them and they returned the fire. The bullet hit the student and he died. The incident happened around 10:30pm last Thursday.
“We want the police to investigate the matter thoroughly and Governor Seyi Makinde said during the inauguration that he should be held responsible for any crime committed by Amotekun because he is their overall boss.
“We therefore call on the Oyo State Government to ensure justice is served concerning this particular case. They should also conduct necessary orientation and training for this set of supposed security operatives, else the Amotekun corps will worsen the situation they were recruited to solve,” Opakunle went on.
While speaking on the tragic incident, a male sibling of the victim, Habeb Gbadebo, informed newsmen over the phone that the police at Atiba had directed them to go and identify the corpse.
“We later went to Iyaganku and the second in command of the Amotekun corps, one Jamiu, represented the Amotekun there. He said it was a robbery case and that my brother shot at them immediately they got there.
“If my brother shot at them, how come the bullet hit him in the back? It is a mystery. They later said he was not the one that shot at them but it was another person. One thing I know is that Amotekun operatives are trying to twist the story and cover it but we won’t allow that to happen,” Habeb said.
The Information Officer of Amotekun in Oyo State, Mrs Ayolola Adedoja, however, labelled the news as ‘fake’.
On the other hand, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, said he was not aware of the matter and needed time to clarify the facts.