Alleged killing of youth by soldier on Valentine day sparked protest in Osun

There was apprehension in the ancient city of Ede, Osun State, on Monday, as heavily armed youths of the town moved round major streets to protest against the alleged killing of an indigene by a soldier on Valentine day.
Residences, shops and other commercial entities in the town were under lock and key when the demonstration was ongoing while students in public and private schools were restricted to their classrooms to safeguard them from being caught up in the web of protest.
Our correspondent gathered that most of the residents of Stadium area, Oja Oba and other major areas in the heart of the town also vacated their houses for fear of being attacked by the protesters.
As a result of the development, policemen and soldiers were reportedly patrolling the town, with Armed Personnel Carrier (APC) vehicle, thus creating fear among the residents of Ede.
Credible source informed the Nigerian Tribune that the angered youths threatened to revenge the killing of one Ismaila Adekola who was allegedly killed by a soldier about 8.30pm while relaxing at a pub located around Stadium area of the town last week Friday.
The suspected soldier had since been arrested and detained by the police at the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Osogbo.
The irate youths had, on Saturday night, set the restaurant where the soldier killed Adekola ablaze and also vandalised the property of the owner of the restaurant, Mrs Bilikisu Ajani, at her family house in Olukoyi compound of the town.
Investigation indicated that the owner of the restaurant and two of his children were instrumental to the discovery of the soldier and his subsequent arrest by the police.
One of the children of the owner of the restaurant, Gafar Ajani, who had fled the town for fear of attack by the protesting youths, told the Nigerian Tribune from his hideout that “the case has gone beyond normal and I don’t know why we should suffer for an offence we never committed.”
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