Residents of Osogbo, the capital of Osun, on Thursday, scampered for their lives as two factions of EndSARS protesters are currently clashing with suspected to be hired political thugs.
A faction of the protesters were seen in Osogbo early Monday morning displaying various degree of weapons, such as cutlasses, clubs etc, the development that caused panic and commotion among the residents of the state.
The Youths suspected to be hoodlums were said to have hijacked the nationwide #EndSAR protest to unleash mayhem on the residents of the town, obstructing vehicular movement and threatened motorists who dared to use the road.
Recall that youths, in their number, had last week Monday embarked on a peaceful protest to demand the scrapping of the Anti-Robbery Response Squad (SARS) Unit of the Nigeria Police Force before it was allegedly hijacked by the suspected hoodlums who almost turned the peaceful protest to violence in the ancient town.
The Thursday’s incident happened when protesters were gathering at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo when some hoodlums armed with weapons allegedly attacked them.
One of the protesters who spoke with InsightMedia said they have gathered intelligence since Wednesday that the state government has hired some thugs to attack them and disperse them from protesting.
The protester said, “What happened was that we were mobilizing ourselves at Oke-Fia and Freedom Park around 9am in the morning. Some of us left Oke-Fia for Freedom Park and as we gathered yesterday, the thugs hired by the state government descended on us and started attacking us.
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“Since we started our protest in Osogbo, it’s been a peaceful one and we had at no time damage any government properties. The government called us yesterday to ask is not to protest but we told them that it’s going to be a peaceful one.”
When asked if there is a crisis or supremacy battle between the protesters, the source said “there’s no factions between us. It’s only today that they hired thugs to attack us and also the National Association of Osun State Students led by its President were also attacking protesters.
“They came to us that they want to join the protest and we said no problem. Only for them to take side with the government to attack us.”
Another Protester, Babawale Popoola said the thugs hijacked their peaceful protest and turned it to violence. He said no fewer than four persons have been injured and are currently receiving treatment in hospitals in Osogbo.
He however, said he doesn’t know those behind the attack.
Speaking in our Correspondent, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Mr Ismail Omipidan described the allegations against the government as a lie coming from the enemies of the government.
He said the State Government has identified with the protesters on Monday and asked them to select a leader who will join the government delegation to monitor the activities of the police on the EndSARS movement in the state.
“But our surprise, they said they have no leader and we promised them that we would do all within our powers to ensure that their agitation is given best treatment.
“But the dangerous dimension the protest is taking as witnessed yesterday in Osogbo has attracted condemnations from every concerned citizen of the state. The state recorded destruction of properties yesterday and the peace of the state capital was thrown into gutter.
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“Even despite that, we have resisted every temptation to violate their fundamental rights of protest. What happened today was simply a supremacy battle between the two groups. We will continue to plead with them to remain peaceful.” Omipidan said.
Also reacting, the president of National Association of Osun State Students, Teslim Salahudeen described the allegations against his members as malicious.
He said the protesters have been infiltrated by hoodlums who have another ulterior motive. He added that the association as a “reputable student Union will no allow its name to be soiled by thugs in the name of Protest”.
“No member of the NAOSS attack anyone. We were part of the protests from Wednesday but it is taking a dangerous dimension and we refused to join. Some people are flying it around that we have collected money, which is another lie.
“We see it as a peaceful protest and we will only agitate genuinely. We can say that those who attacked us were never sponsored by anyone or government.” Salahudeen said.
Meanwhile, residents of the metropolis have raised alarm over the pattern of protests in the town, saying the trend of such struggles indicated dicey public disturbance.
The Youths suspected to be hoodlums were said to have hijacked the nationwide #EndSAR protest to unleash mayhem on the residents of the town, obstructing vehicular movement and threatened motorists who dared to use the road.
Cross section of Civil Society Groups and array of social crusaders had earlier faulted the pattern of protests in Osun State, saying the trend of such struggles indicates dicey public engagement and outright public disturbance.
The groups insisted that while there is democratic justification for protest against police brutality and obvious extortion and intimidation, the structure of expressing grievances should be objective and in the utmost interest of the public.
The Coordinator of Advocacy for Peace in Africa Initiative, Comrade Adebola Ajayi said any attempt to trample upon the inalienable rights of the people under any guise simply defeats any form of struggle to challenge ills of the society and whip government back to line.
He explained that the manner in which those behind the protest against police brutality in Osun went against the agitations suggests dangerous trend of anarchical tendencies and arson.
” We were taken aback with the treasonable move and anarchical tendencies of those causing public disturbance under the pretext of fighting to end uncivil disposition of a section of the police force.
” The criminal act of maiming and outright intimidation of the general public, to the extent of disrupting economic activities and lawful engagement is nothing but antithetical to every tenet of democracy and popular struggle.
“As a matter of urgency and responsibility, the government of Osun must quickly come to the rescue of the people in the state and stop the seeming madnesses”, Ajayi stated .
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In the same vein, the Publicity Secretary of Development Advocacy Group(DAG), Comrade Wasiu Ibrahim expressed displeasure on the events of the past days in the state, saying there is total erosion of clarity of purpose and coordination in the EndSARS agitations.
According to him, the situation where supposed protesters suddenly turned to street urchins and looters, government must take speedy action to protect the general public in line with its statutory obligation .
He said:” We are calling on the government of Osun to proactively move and curtail this unpalatable level of brigandage and lawlessness perpetrating by those elements parading themselves as protesters.
“Without mincing words, this is a clear-cut departure from genuine notion of fighting injustice and oppression, it is in itself an epitome of criminality and anarchy, we must not fold our arms and allow our society to be emasculated in this manner under any guise whatsoever”.
The programme Director of Centre for Sustained Dialogue, Comrade Waheed Saka in his reaction opined that there is a new pattern of agitation of divisive trend in the state, calling on law enforcement agencies to take charge and do the needful to protect the people.
He said in as much as expression of resentment against unpopular governmental policy is democratic and acceptable, such action must not be inimical to the general interests, noting that government must move swiftly to put such barbaric act to an end.
“I support EndSARS, I support reform of the police, but the infiltration of criminals in the agitation is unacceptable and condemnable”, Saka resorted .
