Like most of his co-patriots, Jimoh Isiaq came out to protest against the incessant police brutality but was taken back home in a body bag on Saturday, shot by the same police force in Oyo State.
Hours before his death, young Isiaq was seen on camera standing some distance from the crowd of protesters, peacefully observing and blissfully unaware of his impending death.
It took a stray bullet, fired to scare the crowd away at Owode, Ogbomosho by men of the Nigeria Police Force to kill him.
Although the crowd attempted to save his life by taking him to the nearest hospital, he sadly did not make it.
Isiaq’s death is disheartening and underscores the importance of the ongoing #EndSARS protests across the country.
Nigerian youths are calling for the scrapping of the rogue police unit – Special Anti-Robbery Squad following repeated profiling and brutality.
The killing of Isiaq by the police has fuelled a fresh wave of outrage across social media.
His case is a martyrdom he neither asked for nor foresaw. Nigerian youths, across social media platforms, have promised to “not let him die in vain.”
Isiaq was a student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).
According to medical doctors within Bowen University Teaching Hospital, the bullets penetrated his ribs, making it close to impossible to save his life.
Meanwhile, the State’s Commissioner of Police in a statement denied the incident, saying that no police officer shot or killed any protester.
He added that the police only engaged in the use of tear gas to disperse the protesters after they allegedly began throwing stones and attempting to enter the premises of the police force.
Video evidence, however, shows otherwise, as a protester recorded the shootings while it was ongoing and uploaded the clip to micro-blogging site, Twitter.
Following Isiaq’s death, an outpour of tributes have been trending across Twitter.
“Jimoh Isiaq. Today he woke up. Today he went out to protest. Today he was shot by policemen. Today he died. Today, he has been buried. Jimoh Isiaq. A hero. And his death will not be in vain. #EndSARS” @Chydee
“Who knows if he was to be our future President.. This is Jimoh Isiaq before and after he got shot by the Police. Was he a threat in ANY WAY???” – @YorubaBoy_
“Today, the police killed Jimoh Isiaq an #EndSARS protester in Ogbomoso. Ogbomoso is exactly where minister of youth @SundayDareSD hails from.
“The minister called for the reforms of SARS. How do you reform these state-backed murderers? That’s the rhetorical question!” – @Omojuwa
“Rest in peace Jimoh Isiaq. We will never forget you or your sacrifice. #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality” – @OgbeniDipo
“Jimoh Isiaq’s death cannot and should not be in vain!!! Nigerian Youths, we must see this through for him and all others that have lost their lives as a result of police brutality!!! It just may be me or you next!!! #EndSARS #EndSarsNow” – @mrmacaronii
HumAngle gathered that Isiaq has been buried on Saturday evening amidst tears, in his hometown in Ogbomoso.
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