One dead, 12 arrested as company’s workers protest in Oyo

The Police Command in Oyo State has confirmed that one person died in a commotion that ensued in one of the manufacturing companies in Ibadan.

Workers of a private organisation had complained about the company’s failure to add to their wages amid the high cost of living in the country.

This medium gathered that most of the company’s staff, who are casual staff, alleged that the Federal Government palliatives given to the company were not distributed but hoarded in a place within the company promises.

The continued delay and refusal to increase their wages by the management had sparked violent protests among the workers.

The earlier peaceful protest turned into when the company invited the security agents to halt the protesting workers.

Adewale Osifeso, confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, said the State Commissioner of Police had directed that the Homicide Department of the Criminal Investigation Department investigate the case.

“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 any possible future reoccurrence.

“So far, (12) Twelve Suspects have been arrested in connection with the violent protest. 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,” Osifeso said