The police in Oyo State confirmed on Tuesday that one person died on Monday, while 12 suspects were arrested during a violent protest by workers of Sumal Food Company, Ibadan, over palliatives on Monday.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the situation through a statement issued on Tuesday in Ibadan.
Osifeso said that the protest broke out in the factory located at Oluyole Industrial Estate, Ibadan around 4 pm on Monday.
He added that the workers staged the protest to challenge what they called non-distribution of the palliatives allegedly given by Federal government to all private companies across the country.
Osifeso described as sad that the protest was hijacked by criminal elements who forced their way into the factory, thus destroying vehicles and other property worth several millions of Naira.
“One person died and 12 suspects were arrested in connection with the violent protest,’’ he said.
The spokesman, however, said that normalcy had returned to the area where the company is located, following the deployment of police operatives to maintain peace.
He also disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Ayodele Sonubi, has ordered the transfer of the matter to the homicide unit of Criminal Investigations Department for further investigation.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the protest was premised on false information created and peddled by some workers over disbursement of palliatives to privately-owned companies,’’ he added.
Osifeso promised that the command would provide further information on the matter as soon as investigation is concluded.
