Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour and employment, has said a young man allegedly shot by security operatives believed to be Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Delta state is not dead, contrary to widespread reports.
There has been outrage across social media platforms since Saturday after a video clip surfaced on Twitter where a witness alleged operatives pushed the man out of a car, gunned him down and left the scene in the victim’s vehicle – a white Lexus jeep.
However, reacting in a series of tweets on Sunday, Keyamo said he had spoken with the police authorities in the area and also with a family member of the victim who confirmed that the victim is alive and receiving treatment.
1) I just spoke with both the Commissioner of Police, Delta State & the Area Commander in Ughelli where the unfortunate incident involving a young man & the Police took place yesterday. I also spoke with Ochuko, the victim’s brother. I was born, bred and raised in that same town
— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) October 4, 2020
2) All of them said the victim is alive & receiving treatment. Whilst I totally condemn the extra-judicial killings by SARS & other Police outfits against defenseless citizens and call for comprehensive reforms and overhaul of the system, some facts of this case are as follows:
— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) October 4, 2020
He also clarified that the victim was not attacked by SARS but by operatives of the Operation Delta Safe.
Keyamo stated that contrary to social media reports, the victim was not pushed out of police vehicle while being taken to the station, but jumped down.
3) (a) The outfit involved in this case is called Operation Delta Safe and not SARS (b) the victim was not shot as confirmed by his brother, but fell out of the Police vehicle when being taken to the station after arrest. The brother said he was pushed; the Police said he jumped
— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) October 4, 2020
He also shared a photo of the victim while in the hospital on Sunday morning which shows his head injury.
4) This is a picture of the victim in hospital this morning, showing injuries from the fall (c) the Police stopped to pick him up after the fall, but an angry mob had already gathered and the Police fled and left the victim (d) A Good Samaritan picked him & took him to hospital pic.twitter.com/cjVkLnggHy
— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) October 4, 2020
The Minister concluded by appealing to the youths in Ughelli not to resort to violence or destruction of lives and properties.
Keyamo assured that he will be urging the authorities to investigate the conduct of the Police in the matter.
5. Finally, I wish to appeal to the youths in Ughelli not to resort to violence and/or destruction of lives and properties. I am on top of this matter and though the victim is alive, I will be urging the authorities to still investigate the conduct of the Police in this matter
— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) October 4, 2020
Watch videos of the incident below;
“SARS just shot a young boy dead at Ughelli, Delta state as we speak. In front of Wetland hotels. They left him for dead on the road side and drove away with the deceased Lexus jeep” – @AfricaOfficial2 #EndSARS #EndSarsNow #EndSARSBrutality
pic.twitter.com/dd3U1iZ8Lr— KHAL BUSSIE 💙 (@iam_bussie) October 3, 2020
— KHAL BUSSIE 💙 (@iam_bussie) October 3, 2020
