The Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide (IOOW) has flayed the alleged killing of a member of Yoruba agitators by policemen during a peaceful protest in Ojota, Lagos, asking the international community to wade in.
An unidentified man was killed early on Monday in the Ojota area of Lagos when some Yoruba Nation agitators clashed with men of the Lagos State Police Command.
While social media posts by eyewitnesses initially claimed that two persons were killed when a planned peaceful rally turned violent, police claimed one was lost in the incident. This development sent commuters scampering for safety as gunshots were heard in the area.
In its reaction, the Yoruba Nation agitators said the singular act from the Nigeria police and other security forces was a manifestation of disrespect to the international laws and United Nations charter on the right of the indigenous people to self-determination.
Reacting to the incident through a statement, the General Secretary (interim), Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide (IOOW), Prince Kunle Adelakun Eruobodo, condemned the attack by the Nigeria police and the security agents on the peaceful rally.
According to the statement, “The Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide secretariat condemns the attack by the Nigeria police and the security agents on the peaceful rally of the Yoruba Nation.
“The attack by the Nigeria security agencies on peaceful rally in which two members of the Yoruba Nation were killed has indicated that Nigeria government does not respect the international laws and the United Nations charter on the right of the indigenous people for self-determination.
“This act of bullying is totally absurd and animalistic. We are seizing this medium to appeal to the international community to come to our aid. As Yoruba nation we are naturally a peaceful people. We would never bow down to injustice, oppression and bullying of our dear people.
“Though, those killed are not members of Ilana Omo Oodua but they are strong members of Yoruba nation defending our collective interests as a nation.
“May the souls of our fallen heroes rest in peace, amen.”
The Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, while reacting to the reports via his Twitter handle confirmed the death of the unidentified person.
He stated: “In the early hours of today, miscreants masquerading as Yoruba Nation agitators came out in their hundreds, disrupting social and commercial activities in the Ojota area of the state.
“A team of police officers, comprising Alausa Division and the Rapid Respond Squad (RRS) promptly stepped in to disperse the unlawful gathering and prevent a breakdown of law and order. The miscreants attacked the police, shooting, and destroyed two vehicles in the process.
“One person has been confirmed dead, while two police officers shot by the miscreants are currently receiving treatment. Four suspects have been arrested and investigations have commenced.”
Leader of the Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Prof. Banji Akintoye blamed the police for the death, insisting that the youths were gathered for a peaceful rally.
In a zoom meeting hosted by YSDM Global TV, Professor Akintoye spoke on the rally.
Speaking in zoom meeting, Professor Akintoye stated: “I’m speaking up for the Yoruba nation, especially the young Yoruba people who are gathered in the city of Lagos this morning in order to carry out a peaceful rally in support of self-determination for their Yoruba nation.
“Their purposes are clear: self-determination for the Yoruba nation. Their methods have always been clear: peaceful rallies. No weapons, no violence of any kind. No regarding the police as enemies; no regarding any other official of the Nigerian state as enemies.
“Those are the conditions upon which those young men gathered this morning to carry out this rally.
“Even before they had settled down, as they were arriving at the center where they wanted to carry out the rally, Nigeria police approached them and started shooting.
“Already, we learnt that two young men had been killed as a result of the police firing on them. The young men are not running away; they are not afraid of the police. They are there to carry out a peaceful rally and they will carry out the rally.
“It’s just important to let the authorities of Nigeria know, that Nigerian officials are breaking the law.
“The right to self-determination is a right of the Yoruba people just as it is a right of every nationality in the world. The right to rally on the street is the right of all across the world.
“So, by gathering together peacefully in order to carry out a rally in support of the Yoruba nation, the Yoruba youths are breaking no law. In any case, if they break any law, the next step is not to start killing them right away.
“So we want the government of Nigeria to note that some very serious breach of international law is being committed on the ground of Nigeria at this hour.
“And that two young men, even before they had a chance to join the crowd for the rally, were killed by the Nigerian police.”
Meanwhile, the renowned historian, Akintoye, has expressed his determination to intensify efforts on the agitation for the Yoruba nation, saying that he would not allow bad elements to frustrate the aspiration.
This came as the foremost Yoruba self-determination group, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, got a new constitution midwifed by the Constitution Review Committee of the group constituted by the Congress barely two and half months ago.
A statement signed by Prince Kunle Adelakun Eruobodo, General Secretary (interim), Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, entitled, ‘Ilana Signed Constitution’, said that “Akintoye vowed to continue Yoruba nation agitation and promised not to abandon Ilana Omo Oodua.”
