An autopsy conducted on a young girl, Jumoke Oyeleke, who was hit by a stray bullet during the Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos has been obtained.
According to the autopsy signed by Dr SS Soyemi of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Jumoke’s death was caused by “Haemopericardium, disruption of the heart and lungs and missile injury to the chest.”
Hemopericardium refers to blood in the pericardial sac of the heart. It is clinically similar to a pericardial effusion, and, depending on the volume and rapidity with which it develops, may cause cardiac tamponade.
Agitators for Yoruba self-determination had on July 3 gathered at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota amid the presence of armed policemen and soldiers.
This was after the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, had addressed newsmen at the venue, where he announced that no rally is allowed in the state.
However, his announcement was set aside by the agitators who flaunted their banners and chanted all sorts of slogans to express their determination towards the breakaway of the Yoruba group from Nigeria.
This displeased the security operatives at the venue who fired teargas canisters and used water cannons to disperse the crowd.
This didn’t deter the agitators who returned to their converging point and carried on from where they left off.
The next action from the security operatives had everyone at the rally scampering to safety as gunshots sounded from different directions.
When the situation became a bit calm, Jumoke, who was said to be displaying drinks at a shop close by, was seen lying in a pool of blood.
She was reported to have been hit by a stray bullet when security operatives were dispersing the crowd at the rally.
This report contradicts the claim by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, that Jumoke was abandoned after she was stabbed.
Reacting to the autopsy report, a lawyer with the Femi Falana Chambers, Taiwo Olawale, urged the police to identify the officer that shot the victim.
He also urged the state government to compensate the family.
Olawale said, “The autopsy result implied that she was shot; the third cause of her death was a missile, which means bullet. If you look at the protest that day, nobody shot except the security agencies, so the police should find out whoever shot that lady; whoever did that must face the punishment. The person must be brought out and recommended for prosecution.
“During the autopsy, the bullet was not found in her body and the police had been the one in possession of her corpse since the day of the incident. So, we want them to also produce the bullet so we can ascertain whose bullet it is. They should tell us where the bullet is.
“We also want the government to compensate the family; the deceased was the first child of the family and the breadwinner, and it was the work she was using to feed her mum and three siblings she left behind, so we want the government to compensate the family.”
