The Oyo State Police Command reported that one person died and 12 suspects were arrested during a violent protest by workers of Sumal Food Company in Ibadan over palliatives on Monday.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Ibadan, the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident. According to Osifeso, the protest erupted at the factory located in Oluyole Industrial Estate around 4 p.m. on Monday.
The workers staged the protest to challenge the alleged non-distribution of palliatives supposedly given by the Federal Government to all private companies across the country.
Unfortunately, the protest was hijacked by criminal elements who forced their way into the factory, causing destruction to vehicles and other properties worth millions of naira.
“One person died and 12 suspects were arrested in connection with the violent protest,” Osifeso stated.
He added that normalcy had returned to the area following the deployment of police operatives to maintain peace.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ayodele Sonubi, has ordered the transfer of the case to the homicide unit of the Criminal Investigations Department for further investigation.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the protest was based on false information created and spread by some workers regarding the disbursement of palliatives to privately-owned companies,” Osifeso explained.
The command will provide further information on the matter once the investigation is concluded.
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