The mother of a phone seller, Ramon Azeez, who was killed in Wednesday’s clash between members of the state Park Management System (PMS) and phone sellers, in Ibadan, has demanded justice.
Salmot Azeez, who spoke with journalists on Friday in Ibadan, expressed sadness over the killing of her 37-year-old son, calling for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
She recounted how the then Commissioner of Police, Adisa Bolanta, helped to resolve issues over her property in Iwo Road.
“I don’t know what I did to those who killed my son.
“I was not there, but people kept calling me. They told me that Ramon had been stabbed to death.
“Government should fish out the killers of my son, and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book. I want justice,” she said.
At least one person died in the clash which, according to some witnesses, began after some phone dealers in Iwo Road challenged the park managers, who are also members of the proscribed National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), for blocking the main entrance of their shopping complex.
Mrs Azeez wondered why someone would stab her son to death without committing any crime or fighting anyone.
She said that her children were not cultists, but phone sellers in her complex.
“My children are graduates. The late Ramon finished from Lead City University in Ibadan. My first son, Ahmed, whom they were trailing that day, graduated from a University in London.
“My first son said he doesn’t want to work in London, so I gave them shops in my complex to sell phones. That is how they started their business. They are not cultists, but phone sellers,” she said.
Ahmed, the elder brother of the deceased, recounted his ordeals in the hands of the PMS boys, saying that he was the one they were trailing.
“I was lucky to escape. Basically, I was the one they were after. If they were able to lay their hands on me that day, I won’t be here talking to you.
“Look at us now, we are mourning our brother. We cannot go back to our work.
“What is this? Is this a society? What kind of leaders do we have? We want justice,” he said.
Also, Adebayo Adekoya, who spoke on behalf of the family, recounted how the late Ramon was killed.
Mr Adekoya said the late Ramon was never a cultist, and has no criminal record in any police station in the state.
“What we want from the government is justice, nothing but justice. Video evidence and other media evidence are available to justify these claims,” he said.
‘PMS’ excesses’
Teslim Folarin, (APC-Oyo Central), while paying a condolence visit to the family on Friday called on the police to investigate the killings at Oremeji-Agugu and Iwo Road areas of Ibadan, Oyo State, and bring the perpetrators to book.
“The latest killings at Oremeji-Agugu and Iwo Road must be investigated by the Nigeria Police, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book,” he said.
Mr Folarin, while describing the killing as wicked and barbaric, condemned the excesses of the state PMS, led by Mukaila Lamidi, popularly known as “Auxiliary”.
“The excesses of Oyo State Park Management System (PMS) led by Mukaila Lamidi, popularly known as ‘Auxiliary’ in recent times are condemnable.
“Former Gov. Abiola Ajimobi bequeathed peace and security to Gov. Seyi Makinde-led administration, but things have turned upside.
“There is hardly any day without breakdown of law and order. Oyo State has become theatre of violence, killings, kidnapping and all sorts of crimes,” he said.
(NAN)
