By Abisola Oluremi

Two persons have been reportedly shot dead, while another one was injured during a protest in Ibadan.

It was gathered that protesters were staffers of a private company around Oluyole Estate in Ibadan, and they were said to be agitating for the payment of palliative as directed by the federal government for private employers to pay their workers.

According to the report gathered, the problem started when officers of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, were invited by the company’s management to prevent a breakdown of law and order. 

Some of the protesters who spoke with Radio Nigeria explained that the officers started shooting sporadically to disperse the crowd.

The brother to one of the deceased who does not want his name mentioned confirmed that his brother was shot and the company’s security prevented him from seeing his corpse.

Radio Nigeria’s attempt to speak with the representative of the company was futile as the crew were being directed to another branch of their office at 7up Road where one of the management staff in the production unit said they were not aware of the incident even though there were protesters in front of the company.

The situation escalated when the protesters set one of the company buildings on fire while road users were also prevented from plying the axis.

Some motorists who forced themselves into the crowd had themselves to be blamed as their vehicles’ windscreens were damaged.

At the time of filing this report, the officers of the Nigerian Police Force were seen guarding the entrance of the headquarters of the company located at Town Planning, Ring Road, Ibadan, while the protesters in large numbers were there requesting for the corpse of the deceased.

Meanwhile, Radio Nigeria’s efforts to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso proved abortive as he did not pick up his call when called nor respond to the message sent to him.

Reacting to the incidents, the Oyo State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Mr Bosun Olabiyi, said he was unaware of the protest.