Students at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, are demanding answers after a policeman killed two brothers on Monday. The late brothers were reportedly shot during a fight involving students.
According to reports, the officer, known only as Saheed Rasheed, was called to intervene in the dispute between the students who were celebrating their graduation at a location near the institution. Witnesses claim that Saheed, who is said to have a reputation for heavy-handedness, fired warning shots to disperse the crowd. A stray bullet struck one of the students, who died on the spot.
“Saheed realized he had killed someone and tried to get away,” a source told Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ). “Then the brother of the slain boy walked up to him, but Saheed shot him, too.” He fled the scene afterwards.
LAUTECH students staged protests in response to the incident on Tuesday, demanding justice for the victims and accountability for the officer’s actions. The killing also has sparked outrage on social media, with many Nigerians condemning police brutality.
Police authorities in Oyo State remain mum about the incident. While it is unclear if the officer involved has been arrested or suspended, sources told FIJ that he “was enjoying some sort of protection until the matter faded.”
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
