A 14-year-old girl was allegedly shot dead on Saturday, after policemen and Yoruba nation agitators clashed at the Gani Fewehinmi Park, Ojota in Lagos.
The Nigerian Xpress reports that the deceased, a sales representative simply identified as Jumoke, came to watch the protesters while they were chanting solidarity songs and dancing.
The rally however turned violent after the protesters attempted to engage policemen who tried to disperse the crowd with teargas and water canisters.
The young girl, who fled the scene alongside other onlookers, was hit on the chest by a stray bullet, resulting in her untimely death.
An eyewitness who spoke on the incident said although there was heavy police presence around Ojota area, the agitators managed to gather around 11 a.m.
He said the policemen on ground tried to discourage the protesters, shortly after which the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Hakeem Odumosu, stormed the scene.
“The CP was addressing the press when the agitators started shouting and spoiling for war. Policemen took charge of the situation and started spreading teargas to disperse the crowd. People ran to different directions and I heard gun shots.
“It was shortly after that we heard shouts from a compound not too far from the protest ground. When I got there, a girl was laying lifeless. Blood was also gushing from her chest.”
Reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Police Command in a statement on Saturday, exonerated its operatives.
The statement signed by the Command’s spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi maintained no bullet was fired by its operatives.
The statement read: “The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a news making rounds that a 14 year-old girl was hit and killed by police bullet on July 3, 2021 at the venue of the Oodua Republic Mega Rally in Ojota, Lagos.
“The Command hereby wishes to debunk the rumour and state categorically that it’s a calculated attempt to create confusion and fears in the minds of the good people of Lagos State and the country at large.
“The Command did not fire a single live bullet at Ojota rally today. The said corpse was found wrapped and abandoned at a distance, far from Ojota venue of the rally, behind MRS Filling Station, inward Maryland, on the other side of the venue, with dried blood stains suggesting that the corpse is not fresh. After a close look at the corpse, a wound suspectedly sustained from a sharp object was seen on it.
“The news is false and mischievous. The Command therefore urges the general public to disregard the news and go about their lawful normal daily activities while investigation to unravel the incident will commence immediately.
“The Commissioner of Police,Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, therefore commiserates with the family of the found deceased and assures that thorough investigation will be carried out.”
The Command further warned against the spread or peddling of fake and unconfirmed stories as such could be dangerous and counterproductive.
