Suspected political thugs on Thursday
unleashed terror in three communities in Ekiti State attacking All
Progressives Congress (APC) members and destroying their property.
The communities where the thugs wreaked
havoc are Igbemo-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area,
Ijan-Ekiti and Iluomoba-Ekiti both in Gbonyin Local Government Area.
The hoodlums attacked the residence of a
member of the House of Assembly, Ayodeji Odu and the APC Publicity
Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun both in Igbemo. Four APC members were also
abducted.
Posters and billboards of APC candidates were vandalized by the hoodlums who were armed with guns and machetes.
In a telephone conversation with our
correspondent, Commissioner of Police, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, said he got
information that some government officials were attacked at Igbemo and
that “the command is investigating the incident.”
The thugs were said to have attacked APC
members holding a meeting
on Thursday in Igbemo before they returned
in the early hours of Friday to unleash more deadly attacks.
The violence attacks took place as political parties signed a peace accord brokered by the state police command on Friday.
Olatubosun, in a statement later in the
day fingered the PDP-led government as the brains behind the attacks in
Igbemo, Ijan and Iluomoba.
He said: “They started their raids from
Ijan-Ekiti where they shot sporadically to the air. Residents scampered
to safety as thugs went about destroying APC candidates’ billboards and
posters.
“After Ijan-Ekiti operation, they headed
for Iluomoba-Ekiti where APC ward meeting was disrupted. Billboards and
posters of APC candidates, including the chairs and tables were
destroyed before moving to other communities in Gbonyin to unleash
violence”.
He explained that the thugs returned to
Igbemo-Ekiti at night in three Hilux vans backed by policemen shooting
and destroying the billboards and posters of APC candidates, including
those of a member of Ekiti House of Assembly,Barrister Rotimi Odu.
“It was during their night visit that
these men in military uniform abducted Chief Peter Akinsola a.k.a
Pitoro, the senior brother of the Ward Chairman, Mr. Olusola Bello, Mr.
Olujimi Ogunade, and 22-year-old, Adefemi Ojo.
“Investigation has revealed that the
abducted men are illegally detained at Fayose’s task force office along
Iyin road Ado Ekiti”.
Olatunbosun listed PDP members seen
working with the thugs as Folorunso, Niran, Basiru Ajagbemokeferi, Ropo
Akosile, Tosin, alias Tosco (a notorious criminal), Dada Fagbolagun and a
Michael Daramola, who allegedly drove the thugs to the town.
Olatubosun added that Ajayi Temisoro was
matcheted while a pharmaceutical shop belonging to an APC member,
Olujimi Ogunade, was destroyed.
A high Chief in the town, Chief Tunji
Agamogo, the Onisara of Igbemo as well as one Ariyo Afao, a brother to
Governor Fayose were seen with the thugs encouraging them and pointing
to APC members’ houses.
The APC spokesman called on the
security agencies to intervene to save the lives of abducted members
while also urging the police to be even-handed in the current violence
being unleashed on APC members by PDP thugs.
Meanwhile, Governor Ayo Fayose and
leaders of other political parties on Friday signed a peace accord
towards ensuring violence-free general elections.
The peace pact which was facilitated by
the Ekiti Police Command was witnessed by the Assistant Inspector
General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 8, Christopher Dega.
The peace meeting was however shunned by some candidates.
Fayose expressed his disappointment concerning the absence of other candidates at the meeting.
Speaking before he signed the pact,
Fayose pledged his commitment to maintenance of law and order and
promised not to take vengeance against any political opponent.
Fayose said: “Winning election in
politics is an issue we should see as what God ordains and not about
what we want to do. For me as a leader, the people in APC are my
brothers including those in Labour Party and other parties.
“God has chosen me not to hunt anybody;
God has chosen me not to take vengeance. If I hear of any arrest by the
Police, I always appeal to the Commissioner of Police to release them,
if the alleged offence is not life-threatening.
“Fighting in election, snatching ballot
boxes are no longer fashionable. Your connection with the Police won’t
save you but your connection with the people. Candidates of all parties
should be here; it is not good that we have few people coming here. I
will maintain law and order and submit myself to law and order.I will
not muzzle anybody because God will do what He will do.
“In politics, we abuse each other; if
you abuse me, I will abuse you back and if I cannot abuse you, I will
look for somebody to abuse you. That is politics for you,” he added.
“I, Ayo Fayose, will key into this peace process I will respect this peace process and ensure that this peace process works”.
Dega explained that the peace accord is an attempt to allay fear and send a message to political gladiators to shun violence.
According to him, election should be
free of rancour, acrimony, ill-feelings and bad blood that undermine the
credibility of election.
The AIG warned politicians against the use of thugs and play the game of politics in accordance with the rules.
Earlier in his address, the Commissioner
of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, reminded politicians in the state that
elections will come and go but scars left behind by violence sometimes
linger forever.
Lakanu said issues highlighted in the
peace accord was to ensure peace ful conduct of the 2015 general
elections in the state are issues in the electoral laws.
He said the Police and other sister
security agencies have resolved to continue to do everything possible to
ensure safety of every stakeholder in the electoral process without
bias or sentiment.
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