By Dele Moses, Ilorin
Hoodlums on Friday took over some major streets of Ilorin in Kwara State protesting the death of a youth who the police said was a crime suspect.
The deceased youth, identified as Musbau Saheed, was said to have been arrested alongside another youth before he died in a river he dived into when he decided to escape after he had been arrested.
The police said Saheed and the other arrested youth were among suspected cultists planing an attack and that while the others escaped arrest the deceased dived into the river when he and the other arrested suspect were being taken to the police station.
The hoodlums, while protesting on the streets with occassional display of violence, claimed that the police caused the death of Saheed.
They were said to have carried the corpse of the deceased along as they took their protest to different parts of the town.
They were said to have started the protest from around Baboko area of the town and took it through Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Unity Road to the ‘A’ Division along Ajase-Ipo Road.
The protest forced many commuters and motorists to desert the streets and shop keepers to hurriedly close their shops while police and all traffic control officers on the streets left their duty posts to escape possible attacks from the hoodlums.
Police spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi, in a statement, said the suspected cult members planning an attack gathered at an uncompleted building in Baboko area where the detectives succeeded in arresting two of them
He said when the two were being taken away from the scene of the arrest Saheed who was one of the two dived into a nearby river in a bid to escape from the arrest.
Okasanmi explained that the suspect was rescued from the river by combined efforts of the police and men of the fire service and taken to the hospital where he was however confirmed dead
He said the police commissioner, Mohammed Bagega, has ordered an investigation into the matter with the directive that the fleeing suspects be arrested.
He added that the police boss assured residents of their safety and security and urged them to go about their lawful endeavours without fears
The statement reads: “Kwara State Police Command wishes to assure the good people of Kwara State of their safety at all times as adequate security arrangements has been emplaced in all parts of the state.
“The command also wishes to allay the fear and anxiety of the people of Ilorin, especially in Baboko area where some hoodlums blocked the road, preventing free flow of traffic this morning, in protest of the incident of the arrested suspected cultist, who in an attempt to escape from the police took a dive into the river close to the scene of the arrest, the hoodlums took to the street and blocked the road.
“It happened that, the arrest came on the heels of an actionable intelligence available to the Command, indicating that some suspected cultists were assembled at an uncompleted building in Baboko in readiness for an attack, a team of detectives were detailed to the scene.
“Two of the suspects were arrested, while taking them to the station, one of the suspects by name Musbau Saheed ‘m’ jumped into a nearby river close to the scene, an attempt by the police and fire Service Officers to rescue him was delayed by hoodlums who made the rescue attempt difficult, eventually he was rescued and taken to hospital where he was confirmed dead.
“The commissioner of police, Mohammed Lawal Bagega, visited the scene and directed a discreet investigation into the matter, he also ordered that effort must be geared towards arresting the fleeing members of the group.
“The CP advised members of the public to go about their lawful endeavors without any fear, as the police are on ground to ensure the safety and security of all citizens.”