The #EndSARS protest that rocked Ogbomosho axis of Oyo state had left in its trail, tales of woes and destruction. Adeyinka Adeniran looks at the issue of the attack on Soun’s palace
What started as a genuine concern from well-meaning individuals, mostly youths has no doubt left a sour taste in the mouth. When the promoters of the #EndSARS campaign hit the roads and streets of various cities across the country, little did they know that, some families will always live to remember the scare that would be left on them.
Like their counterparts across the country, youths in various numbers gathered to champion a cause that will change the story of brutality, harassment, intimidation and all other vices traceable to a group of trained personnel in the Nigerian Police to fight armed robbery and protect lives and property.
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), now disbanded had gained popularity for notoriety cruelty by the operatives and no state of the federation was spared of the sad tales that usually accompany an encounter with the men in black uniform.
The case of protest was not different in Oyo State either. But, it later turned out to make a difference in an area that has refused to attract commendations from within and outside the country.
Although, an initial protest had days before held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital city, with thousands of protesters turning up to lend a voice peaceful, the story turned bloody in Ogbomosho part of the state.
The ancient town eventually set the tone for lives to be lost and property to be destroyed. By the time the protest, which started on Sunday peaceful was to end, 24years old Isiaka Jimoh had been killed by yet to be identified persons.
While some claimed that the bullet that terminated the life of the father of one was shot by yet-to-be-identified police officers attached to the Owode Area Command of the Oyo State Police Command, some others persons think differently.
By Sunday evening, the situation had gone so worse that providence and swift response of the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) rescued the 94years old monarch of the town, the Minister of Youths and Sports and some individuals who were attending a meeting inside the royal abode of the Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi.
The attack on the palace also left in the trail no fewer than ten vehicles, motorcycles, glass windows, home accessories, building etc damaged in varying degrees.
The death of Jimoh, according to the residents had stirred up so much anger and pain in the city which led to a re-mobilisation of the protesters who had to unleash their anger and pain on the royal property as well as those of some individuals who were in the palace as at the time of the attack.
Religious leaders, community leaders, groups, opinion leaders among other relevant stakeholders were attending a meeting called to find a lasting solution to the issue that shook the entire town.
While many people have condemned the attack on the palace in strong terms, some wonder if the protesters mostly youths knew the implications of such an act, should the monarch be attack or injured while the invasion of the palace lasted.
Although some sources who spoke with The Nation said suspected hoodlums were the ones behind the act, other sources said the attack which is very unusual could be an indication that the people are expecting something more from the first class Soun of Ogbomosho.
Another worrisome part of the incident was the attempt by some individuals who deposited bodies of two dead victims inside the palace despite the well know Yoruba tradition that the king must not see a corpse.
Jimoh Isiaka
Although, opinions still remain divided as to who killed Jimoh Isiaka, an undeniable fact remains that he was shot dead. After the shot, Jimoh who was rushed to the hospital eventually gave up to ghost at the Bowen Teaching Hospital in Ogbomosho.
The deceased, a trained electrical apprentice due for graduation few days before he died, left behind a pregnant wife and a two year old child.
His father, Mr Jimoh Atanda who described his son as ‘a cool headed boy’ said he was not expecting the death of his son added that the deceased was not known to or be involved in trouble.
Narrating how he received the shocking news of the death of his son, Mr Jimoh said “I was at Orita merin coming from Aroje when I received a call from his sister that her brother had been shot and I asked how because I am aware he is a cool headed boy.
“His sister said that he (Isiaka) was called by his mother and decided to take a road where the protest is taking place. He was seen from afar watching the scene and but was hit by the gun fired by police of Ogbomoso. He was rushed to Bowen Teaching Hospital, we tried so much to save him by donating blood. I and the mother donated blood immediate it was requested but we eventually lost him.
“Jimoh was due to have his graduation to become a trained electrician on Sunday (days after he dies) but death took him away.”
His mother, Ramota Jimoh, confirmed speaking with her son few minutes before he was killed, warning him not to take part in the protest.
“I lived at Oke Owode, when I heard of the protest, I called him and he picked the call. I asked him where he was and he said he was on his way home from work. Few minutes later, I called back and the call was through, his father later called me to come over to Bowen Teaching Hospital that my son was hit by a gun. I rushed there and I was asked to donate blood and I did but the place he got hit was bad and I was hopeful but we later lost him.
Although, the parents have accepted fate on the death of their son, they appealed to government and well-meaning individuals to help support the family left behind by the deceased.
How crisis erupted
In an interaction with an eyewitness who declined to have his name in print for fear of unknown, he said the protest actually started peaceful until it turned into a riot by the shots from the police.
“We started the protest peacefully and marched to the palace of Soun of Ogbomoso, the King sent someone to us and charged us not to cause any problem as we protest. From there, we marched to the Police Station at Owode, we asked for the Area Commander to speak to us as we have a petition to submit, we waited for one hour and later asked those on sit to address us but we were surprised as the DPO was seen holding a gun.
“Many of us got furious about him holding a gun as the protest was a peaceful one and we didn’t come for a fight. Leader of Ogbomoso Parapo later came to address us and asked us to go back to the Palace but to my surprise as we were heading back, I heard a gunshot followed by tear gas and when I looked back, I discovered that someone had been hit by the shot fired and the person happened to be Jimoh.
“Jimoh was actually living in the area but he was not involved in the protest as he was just in his shop before he decided to step out which and he was still far from the scene. Jimoh was actually expected to have his graduation on Sunday as a trained electrician. As he was hit, many gathered around him and rushed him to Bowen Teaching Hospital where he gave up the ghost after losing blood.
“This actually got his neighborhood friends and peer group angry but they were calm but turned uncontrollably on Sunday when they heard the police said they didn’t shoot or kill anyone during the protest. They marched back to the police station at Owode where two people were killed again and their bodies dumped at the police station before they moved them to the Palace of Soun of Ogbomoso, in a viral video seen on social media was the dead body dumped at the palace.
“When the minister came around to visit the king, the guys matched to the palace to vandalize and destroyed the palace”, the source noted.
Speaking of behalf of Soun of Ogbomoso, the Secretary to the Palace, Mr Toyin Ajamu also confirmed that no death occurred in the palace, noting that the corpses were brought into the palace by the rioters.
He explained that “on noticing the presence of the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, they (protesters) forced themselves into the palace to destroy the property. Luckily enough, no one was killed but about nine cars were destroyed.
“Nobody was shot in the palace. Some people didn’t verify that information before posting news online. The dead bodies were brought into the palace.”
Makinde’s intervention
Worried by the development, Governor Seyi Makinde, who was away in Ondo state as the Chairman of PDP Campaign Committee for the governorship election, paid a sympathy visit to the Soun, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi and a condolence visit to the families of the Jimoh Isiaka and two other victims of the crisis.
To show his commitment to restoring peace, the Governor made a public donation of N100million for the repairs of the palace and other things damaged. He also gave the sum of N1million each to the three identified families of deceased.
The Governor appealed to the monarch to forgive the perpetrators saying “I want to believe that you are not their real target. Because if you were, immediately they entered, they would have attacked you.
“But they were looking for where to destroy to draw the attention of the government to their side. I am not supporting what they have done but it has been done already and we have to engage them.
“So, I am sincerely sorry for this level of damage, sir. Your children did it. That is part of the price we have to pay for the current state of the country. Kabiyesi, as a government, we will do everything possible to ensure there is palliative. We will also ensure that we beautify the structure.
