Ebenezer Odeyemi, a striker of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) has narrated his ordeal in the hands of army officers in Ibadan, Oyo State on Tuesday.
According to the PUNCH Newspaper, Odeyemi, fondly called Lukaku, and three of his 3SC teammates Adekunle Adeniyi, Sochima Elum and Chimamkpa Onwubuchie, were assaulted by soldiers while they were having dinner at a nearby canteen at Idishin – near the club’s camp at Jericho Road, Ibadan after the club’s training session.
The former MFM striker said he and his teammates saw the soldiers walk towards them but opted not to take to their heels as they were not guilty of any crime.
While Adeniyi, Elum and Onwubuchie managed to escape when they were attacked, Odeyemi could not and was lynched by the four officers.
“We were almost done eating when we saw these soldiers walk towards the canteen and as obedient citizens not guilty of any crime, we continued our discussion because we felt they were also there to eat as well,” Odeyemi told The PUNCH.
“But they came there to beat us up. My teammates escaped just as they wanted to attack us and while I tried to run I fell down and they all attacked me. I had a cut on my face from the punches I received from them.
“I told them I’m a professional footballer with a state club (Shooting Stars) but they did not listen.”
Odeyemi, who has scored once in 10 appearances for 3SC this season, added that he is recovering from the injuries sustained in the attack, but ruled out any chance of featuring for the Oluyole Warriors when they host Kano Pillars this weekend.
“My ankles are swollen and I have some cuts on my right toe, so I’m not sure I can play this weekend. I have severe aches over my body.”
The management of 3SC had written a petition to the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General A. B. Omozoje, over the incident, seeking for justice.
“These are players who went to have dinner and they were brutalised by security operatives who are saddled with the responsibility of saving lives and properties,” a member of the team management said.
“We all must join hands and put an end to the brutality of the civil populace by uniformed men in our society. I will be glad if the victim is ready to enforce his fundamental right in court.”
Meanwhile, www.insideoyo.com gathered that the military officers involved have apologised to the players and the management of the Oluyole Warriors over the incident.
This was made known in a statement by the media officer of the club, Mr Tosin Omojola on Wednesday.
Omojola’s statement read in part: “In response, they (the soldiers) gave their own side of the story, explaining what happened and then tendered their apologies over the incident, which they said was not deliberate.
“The soldiers involved said they were on patrol, having being drafted to the area as a security measures to put under the check the activities of some notorious gangs who have been terrorising residents of the area for some time.
“The residents had arranged for the soldiers to beef up security in the area and it was during one of their routine checks that led to the incident.
“While patrolling, the military men saw the four players and having initially passed, they decided to turn back, to find out who they were and what their mission at that spot was.
“On seeing them heading towards their direction, the players, out of fear, took to their heels, thus giving the soldiers impression that they (the players) were up to something.
“While three others succeeded in running away, Odeyemi was not that lucky as the soldiers caught him and pounced on him, suspecting that he and his fleeing colleagues were part of those wrecking havoc in the are, not knowing that they were footballers.”
