Eleven persons suspected to be students of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, who were arrested for alleged involvement in the violent protest of the shooting of one of their colleagues by the police have been remanded at the Federal Medium Security Prison, Mandala Area, Ilorin.

The order to remand the accused was made by an Ilorin Magistrate Court before which they appeared on a three-count charge of disturbance of public peace, rioting and mischief by fire.

The accused include: Opeyemi David, 21; Akibu Tijani, 28; Ibrahim Abdulrauf, 25; Taiye Saka Eletu, 25; Ezike Michael, 32 and Gbadebo Kabiru, 25.

Others are: Ajijola Aderinola, 20; Ajibola Kennedy, 23; Toheeb Suleman, 20; Kaseem Laseem 33; Emmanuel Kayode, 19 and Ismail Musbau, 23 all residents of Ilorin.

Police said that on 27 and 28 of May, following a tip-off at the office of the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ilorin, it was discovered that a group of persons armed with various offensive weapons gathered around some major streets within Ilorin metropolis which resulted into a riotous situation.

According to the police, the rioters burnt tyres on the major streets and later burnt down a police post along Sakama Street, Ilorin, Police Traffic Control Boots and destruction of some public properties such as traffic and street lights.

Police First Information Report (FIR) on the matter stated that prompt police action to curtail the situation led to the arrest of the accused, who actively took part in the riot of both days and were arrested in the course of the riot.

The FIR added further that investigation conducted at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Ilorin revealed that the accused were among the hoodlums that disturbed the peace of people of Ilorin metropolis and destroyed public properties and burnt police post at Sakama road, Ilorin.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Alhassan Jubrin, informed the court that investigation into the case was still ongoing. He objected to the bail of the accused and urged the court to remand them in the prison custody, Ilorin, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Kwara State branch that appeared for the accused urged the court to admit them to bail pending the outcome of the investigation.

The secretary of the association, Barrister S.I. Abaya, argued that the Constitution of the Federation of Nigeria presumes the accused innocent of the allegation until the contrary is proved.

The presiding judge, Mrs. I.O. Olawoyin declined to grant the submission of the defence and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Federal Medium Security Prison, Mandala, Ilorin, till the next adjourned date.

The court adjourned the case to June 13 for further mention.