Atanda Jimoh, the father of Isiaka Jimoh, a man who died as a result of a gunshot he sustained during a protest in Ogbomoso on Saturday, has narrated how the family tried to save the deceased but to no avail.
The father of the deceased said that he and the mother of the deceased donated pints of blood to save the deceased.
Mr Jimoh, who spoke with journalists in Ogbomoso on Tuesday, regretted that despite the donation of blood, the family lost their son.
It was gathered that the deceased was hit by a bullet when youths calling for the ban of Special Anti-Robbery Squads (SARS) stormed the streets of Ogbomoso to express their displeasure.
It was, however, gathered that the protest turned bloody when the police officers at the Owode Police Station engaged the protesters.
A gunshot hit Isiaka Jimoh, and he was rushed to Bowen Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The deceased’s father described his son as a cool-headed person. He disclosed that the deceased was not part of the protest but was only hit by a gunshot while watching the protest from afar.
He said that the deceased was due to have his graduation to become a trained electrician on Sunday, a day after he was killed.
He begged the Oyo State government, under the leadership of Engr Seyi Makinde, to help the family, adding that the deceased left behind a pregnant wife and a two-year-old child.
Mr Atanda said he was not expecting the death of his son because his son usually avoids trouble.
He gave an account of how he received the shocking news of the death of his son.
Mr Atanda said, “I was at Orita Merin coming from Aroje when I received a call from his sister that her brother had been shot, and I asked how because I am aware he is a cool-headed boy.
“His sister added that he was called by his mother, and he decided to take a road where the protest is taking place, and he was seen from afar watching the scene, and that was how he was hit by the gunshot fired by the police in Ogbomoso.
“He was rushed to Bowen Teaching Hospital; we tried so much to save him by donating blood, by me and by me, and eventually we lost him.
“He was due to have his graduation to become a trained electrician on Sunday, but death took him away.
“I want to beg the Oyo State Government to help me, as he left a pregnant wife and a two-year-old child, and the education of the child is very important to me, and I know Engineer Seyi Makinde is a man of mercy and a man of the people, so I believe he will help us.”
However, the Oyo State police command has refused to comment on the number of casualties in Saturday and Sunday’s attack on protesters in Ogbomoso by the police officers in the town.
Our correspondent, however, gathered from multiple sources that no fewer than three people lost their lives while several others sustained injuries during another clash between the policemen and the protesters on Sunday.
The state police command is yet to comment on the number of casualties and those who were injured on Saturday and Sunday as of the time this story was filled.
The command’s public relations officer, Olugbenga Fadeyi, when contacted, did not answer phone calls.
Also, a text message sent to Mr Fadeyi, asking him to state the police’s position on the incidents, has not been replied to as of the time of filing this report on Wednesday.
