TheCable

Sunday Dare, minister of youth and sports development, says security operatives attached to him did not fire shots at suspected hoodlums who attacked him in Ogbomoso, Oyo state. 

The minister had gone to Ogbomoso on Sunday, following the murder of Jimoh Isiaq who was allegedly shot by police officers during the #EndSARS protest in the town. 

While visiting the palace of Oladunni Oyewumi, Soun of Ogbomosho, the minister was attacked by the hoodlums, but his security details immediately took him and others into safety. 

In a statement on Thursday, Dare said the security operatives who responded by protecting him, did not fire a single shot.  

 “I was at Ogbomoso, my home town, first in my capacity as the minister with the responsibility for the youth of Nigeria to commiserate with the parents of Isaq Jimoh who died, in #EndSARS protest, during a fracas with the police,” he said. 

“I visited Ogbomoso less than 48 hours after the unfortunate tragic incident to be with the family of the deceased protester.  Apart from my condolence visit to the family of Late Isaq Jimoh, I also visited other citizens, especially the 12 and 15 year olds who were victims of police stray bullets at the Bowen Hospital. I took the advantage of my visit to also show solidarity with the young protesters who were making a just demand to reform the police and operations of the police special anti-robbery squad. I appealed for calm with a promise that the victims will get justice.  

 “It was while the meeting was going on that hoodlums, thugs and other miscreants stormed the palace to disrupt the meeting. As expected, my security operatives responded to protect me, the Soun, his chiefs, other leaders that were in attendance and the NTA Reporter and Parrot FM journalist. My orderly and DSS operatives scurried us into safety upstairs and stayed with us to fully protect us. 

“They did not fire a shot during the confusion created by the hoodlums. It is still unfathomable how such a coordinated attack could be unleashed so swiftly. The rampaging protesters broke into the palace, destroyed chairs, overturned tables, and broke windows and every valuable thing on sight. I want to state that I do not believe that the people that invaded the palace of Soun of Ogbomoso were neither youth nor students. They were miscreants and thugs who saw a window of opportunity in the genuine protest against SARS by peaceful protesters.”

 The minister said peaceful protests are part of the democratic culture for citizens to raise issues of concerns for the government’s attention. 

He added that the federal government encourages peaceful protest as essential ingredient of democracy but will not condone brigandage and criminality under any guise.