Workers at the Sumal Foods company (Yale) in Ibadan, Oyo State, have decried the Nigerian police's attempt to distort facts and evade accountability for the attack and killing of peaceful protesting workers on Monday. 

According to eyewitnesses, the police fired teargas canisters and live bullets at the protesters, who were demanding unpaid palliatives, resulting in the death of three workers, including Mr. Phillips, a three-year employee. 

However, in a bid to cover up the incident, the police have issued a statement blaming the company's staff for spreading false information about palliative disbursement, and while acknowledging one worker's death, the Oyo State command failed to take responsibility for the killing. 

The workers have condemned the attempt to falsify facts and seek justice for the victims.

The Oyo State Police Command in a statement by the Command's spokesperson SP Osifeso Adewale, announced the arrest of 12 workers in connection with the protest.

Adewale said "The Oyo State Police Command wishes to set the record straight concerning the disturbing violent protests that rocked one of the factories belonging to Sumal Foods, Oluyole extension Ibadan on Monday, 01/07/2024 around 1600hrs.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the protest was premised on a widespread false information authored and peddled by some of the workers concerning the disbursement of Palliative to all private owned companies and firms in the Country.

“Their grouse however was that they were being denied the welfare package.

“Sadly, the protest was hijacked by criminal elements who forced their way into the factory destroying vehicles and property worth millions of naira.

“One death was recorded during the violent protest. However, normalcy has since returned to the affected area with the immediate deployment of the command’s operational and tactical assets to prevent any possible future reoccurrence.

“So far, 12 suspects have been arrested in connection with the violent protest.

“Furthermore, the CP has ordered that the entire case be taken up by the Homicide Department of the Criminal Investigation Department with the Deputy Commissioner of Police directly in charge of investigations.

“More updates would be provided accordingly, please." 

However, one of the workers who wanted to remain anonymous explained that Sumal company was planning to cheat them (workers) on gratuity payment, noting that while a Nigerian worker who put 25 years in the firm are paid N650,000, an expatriate in the same job collect N20million in one year of service.