Ogun state Police Command has reacted to the protest in Sagamu which turned into a bloodbath as police officers allegedly fired live ammunition on the erring crowd.
A report by Daily Nation claimed the security operatives threw canisters of teargas to disperse the protesting crowd who were enraged by the alleged killing of Kazeem Tiamiyu by an operative of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) who accused him of being a yahoo-yahoo boy.
However, Kenneth Ebrimson, Ogun state Commissioner of Police when contacted denied such reports. He said police officers did not fire live bullets at the protesting crowd. He disclosed that some miscreants had plans to seize the moment to launch mayhem but security operatives were able to control the situation.
“Not a single bullet was fired by policemen. I am in Sagamu as I speak to you.
‘’We have since addressed the protesters and calmed them down. They dispersed quietly.
“What happened is that some miscreants tried to take opportunity of the protest to cause trouble in the state.
“They were the ones who tried to burn down the police station but we dispersed them. We did not fire any shot despite the provocation from them.
“We know some people were trying to push the police to the wall so that they will say see what has happened. That was why there was strict instruction on the men not to use force.
“We have taken control of the situation. The responsible protesters were addressed and assured that the team that arrested the footballer was already in detention and undergoing internal disciplinary actions.
“We did not arrest anyone because as it is, we are applying diplomacy to avoid escalating issues.
“We have said it before that the policemen that arrested him are not SARS operatives. They were of the Zonal Intervention Squad and have been arrested,” Commissioner Ebrimson said.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Iliyasu, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of Zone II which comprises Lagos and Ogun States also disclosed that the matter would be duly investigated as he commiserated with the family of the deceased.
“I will not tolerate any act of indiscipline, unprofessionalism, indolence and disregards to human rights and the rule of law by officers and men of the two commands under my watch.
“We assure all citizens of the two states continuous protection of life and property as enshrined in all our extant laws. The Ogun State Police Commissioner has commenced investigation into the incident”
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