LAUTECH Shooting: Family Petitions Reps, Demands Justice for Slain Corper

2nd May 2024

The family of Iyanda Damilola, a corps member, who was allegedly killed by the police has petitioned the House of Representatives, seeking for justice over the killing of Damilola during a convocation ceremony of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ayodeji Alao-Akala, while presenting the petition to the House, explained that the petition was written by one of his constituents, Iyanda Femi Israel, who is also a blood brother to the deceased.

The member, representing Ogbomoso North, South and Oriire Federal Constituency of Oyo State explained that Israel in the petition dated Friday 26th April, 2024, insisted that neither himself, his late brother nor any of his invited guests were cultists as alleged by the police.

According to Alao-Akala, on Monday 22nd April, 2024, the petitioner had his convocation ceremony at LAUTECH, and invited his brother, who was a serving corps member in Ibadan, and other friends to celebrate with him, but that in the course of the event, there was a fight which got the attention of the police, who in an attempt to restore normalcy fired shots, one of which brought the late Damilola down.

The words of the petitioner: “After the Convocation ceremony at noon, we went to a lounge at Under G named Reeplay. We were inside the Lounge when we heard people fighting outside. While this was ongoing, trigger-happy policemen of the Nigeria Police Force started shooting sporadically into the air, in an attempt to avoid being shot, we tried to rush to the car, but unfortunately, my brother got hit by a stray bullet in his head and he instantly died.

“I was also hit by a stray bullet on my left arm, which I am currently at the hospital for. With grief in my heart, I am left to ask how our aged parents will bear this loss?

“He only came to celebrate with me. He was a serving corps member of his country. My family is in immeasurable sorrow due to this horrible incident. My brother’s only crime was to have come to celebrate my convocation ceremony with me. We never had any confrontation with anybody, and we tried to leave because we were raised to avoid trouble where there is any.

“In the bid to cover their recklessness up, the Police Command is claiming that we are cultists. My brother’s life mattered and so do all our lives. Please do not let them get away with this.

“If they can shoot someone unprovoked, the question then is who else is safe in Nigeria? I write on behalf of my family. Please help us ensure my brother, Damilola does not die in vain. Help give immediate justice for the death of my brother, so that another parent’s child does not go through what Damilola went through. We cannot afford to lose him in vain.

“We call on the Honorable House to expedite action to ensure that the rogue officers that killed my brother, officer Saheed, officer Olofe, and others are made to face the full wrath of the law. Also, the entire Monitoring Force in Ogbomoso should be investigated for bullying and harassment of students”.