At least one person was confirmed dead as outsource staff of a food factory in Ibadan, Oyo State, Sumal Foods, embarked on a protest on Monday evening, over the delay in the implementation of the palliative package for the workers.
The major road leading to the company from the Mobil filling station end of the Ring Road in the Ibadan South-West Local Government Area was barricaded by the protesting workers, hindering the free flow of traffic in the area.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the company staff took to the streets over the delay in the palliative implementation package to cushion the economic effects, which was said to have been approved six months ago.
An eyewitness said, “The main gate of the Sumal Foods was forcefully opened, but the police drafted to the scene of the incident prevented the protesters from gaining entry.”
Another witness said the aggrieved workers went wild when the police allegedly used tear gas to disperse them.
Unconfirmed reports said two workers lost their lives in the protest.
The state police command, on Tuesday, however, confirmed the death of one person, with the arrest of 12 others in connection with the protest on Monday evening.
The command, in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, said, “The Oyo State police command wishes to set the record straight concerning the disturbing violent protests that rocked one of the factories belonging to Sumal Foods, Oluyole Extension, Ibadan, on Monday, 01/07/2024 around 1600hrs.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the protest was premised on widespread false information authored and peddled by some of the workers concerning the disbursement of palliative to all private-owned companies and firms in the country.
“Their grouse, however, was that they were being denied the welfare package. Sadly, the protest was hijacked by criminal elements who forced their way into the factory, destroying vehicles and property worth millions of naira.
“One death was recorded during the violent protest. However, normalcy has since returned to the affected area with the immediate deployment of the command’s operational and tactical assets to prevent future recurrence. So far, 12 suspects have been arrested in connection with the violent protest.”
The police commissioner ordered that the case be taken up by the Homicide Department of the Criminal Investigation Department.
“Furthermore, the CP has ordered that the entire case be taken up by the Homicide Department of the Criminal Investigation Department, with the Deputy Commissioner of Police directly in charge of investigations.
“More updates will be provided accordingly, please,” the statement read.
