By Precious Oham
The Federation of Ekiti State Students’ Union FESSU on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest to the complex of the Ekiti State House of Assembly to demand justice for a slain corps member, Damilola Iyanda who was shot by a trigger happy policeman last week.
Recall that Iyanda, a native of Ogotun-Ekiti, Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area of Ekiti State was allegedly shot by a police officer deployed to the scene of a fracas that ensued during an after-party of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, convocation ceremony held outside the school premises.
Speaking on behalf of the students, National President of the Union, Benjamin Adekunle demanded that a swift investigation is carried out and the perpetrator is brought to book.
He noted that the peaceful protest to the Ekiti State House of Assembly is to call the attention of the Speaker of the House to liase with his Oyo State counterpart to bring justice to the deceased and the family.
He said: “We demand for a swift investigation into this matter and the culprit should be brought to book. We demand for compensation for the family of the deceased. We demand for comprehensive treatment of his brother that sustained gunshot injury. He is at home and his health is deteriorating. We demand an end to police brutality in Nigeria. Police should be our friend, save us and not kill us.
“We have come to the House of Assembly today to speak with th Speaker to liase with his counterpart in Oyo State for swift justice for Iyanda Damilola and Iyanda Oluwafemi. They are from Ekiti State and raised and brought up in Ogotun Ekiti.”
Receiving the peaceful demonstrators, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye condemned the killing of the slain corps member.
He said that the House will issue a strong statement to condemn the senseless killing adding that the police officer acted unprofessionally to murder a defenseless citizen.
“We express our condolences to the family and we condemn the killing and unprofessionalism of the police officer who murdered one of us, a youth from Ekiti State who is also serving his fatherland in cold blood.
“Whatever it is, I don’t believe any police officer will take the life of any human being and shot him, who is not a criminal and defenseless citizen without provocation.
“We condemned it and the House will be sitting. We will have a position during our plenary. Our resolutions will be passed and I know the House will condemn it. It’s so unfortunate his life is cut short.”
