IBADAN – The Oyo State Police Command has arrested twelve suspects in a Sumal Foods violent protest over alleged refusal to distribute alleged Federal government’s palliatives.
It was gathered that during the protest and an attempt to disperse them by a security operatives, a casualty was recorded.
Speaking on the protest, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, in a statement by Police Public Relations Officer, SP Osifeso Adewale stated, “Police wish 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 a 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 Command’s operational and tactical assets to prevent any possible future reoccurrence.