By DANIEL Whyte

Speaker of the Ekiti State  House of Assembly,  Funminiyi Afuye has spoken over the protest of students of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) and the subsequent shooting by men of Nigeria Police on Tuesday, which led to the death of two students.

The Speaker  expressed his concerns over the ugly incident and the death of the students via his Twitter handle @FunminyiAfuye.

In a Twitter thread he posted on Friday, Afuye said he recognised the right of students to protest and vowed to investigate the matter.

“I had issued a statement on the matter recognising the right of students to peaceful and civilised protests. I indicated that the unfortunate incident will be investigated by the Ekiti State House of Assembly,” he tweeted.

“I represent justice. The Governor represents justice. The Wife of the Governor is a social justice activist. Indeed the programme that was disrupted by unscrupulous elements is social justice and empowerment engagement by the Wife of the Governor.

“It’s indeed saddening that there were reported casualties when the events had ended and everybody had left.

“As a parent, I commiserate with the affected families,” he concluded by expressing his sympathy over the casualties recorded as a result of the incident.”

This was as the State Government on Saturday sent delegates to visit the families of the two deceased students who live at Ido-Ekiti and Usi Ekiti.

The ICIR reported how the violence that turned bloody claimed the lives of Oluwaseyi Kehinde who was shot in the eye and Joseph Okonofua who was hit in the stomachs and died hours afterwards.

Several Nigerians had condemned the shootings and demanded justice for the dead students.

The ICIR also reported that SERAP, a non-profit legal and advocacy organisation, condemned the unlawful and extrajudicial shooting of students on Tuesday.

Also, Kolapo Eleka, a former deputy governor of Ekiti State and 2019 governorship candidate reproved the action.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Government also has commiserated with the families of the two deceased students through its official Twitter handle @ekitistategov.

Biodun Oyebanji, Secretary to the Government of Ekiti State who spoke during the visit said it was to demonstrate that the government shared in the grief of the parents and to sympathise with them over their loss.

“Oyebanji said the visit was at the instance the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; who was saddened by the unfortunate incident, adding that the visit was to demonstrate that the state government share in their grief and to encourage them during the trying period,” the message on the twitter handle read.

The delegates to the deceased’ families were Biodun Oyebanji, Secretary to Ekiti State Government; Moji Fafure, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development; Gbenga Ageyo, Commissioner for Environment; Abiodun Fawekun, Lawmaker representing Ido/Osi 1 at the State Assembly and Eunice Oladimeji, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs.