Thugs suspected to be supporters of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, reportedly stormed some communities in Gbonyin and Irepodun/Ifelodun local governments on Friday, attacking the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The thugs also reportedly destroyed the billboards and posters of its candidates in the March 28 and April 11 general elections.
According to a statement by State Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, the thugs armed with guns and machetes stormed Igbemo-Ekiti where they disrupted APC ward meeting.
A car belonging to ward chairman was damaged while several members were attacked in an orgy of violence that lasted several minutes.
Olatubosun further claimed that the attackers also came back in the night unleashing fiercer violence and abducted four members in the process.
“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’ billboard 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,” Olatubosun explained.
He added 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 Barrister Rotimi Odu, a member of the House of Assembly seeking re-election. They also visited Olatubosun and Odu’s homes.
“It was during their night visit that these men in military uniform abducted Peter Akinsola a.k.a Pitoro, the senior brother of the Ward Chairman, Olusola Bello, Olujimi Ogunade, and 22-year-old Adefemi Ojo.
Investigation however revealed that the “abducted men were detained at Fayose’s task force office along Iyin road Ado Ekiti,” Olatubosun explained.
He listed PDP members seen working with the thugs as Folorunso, Niran, Basiru Ajagbemokeferi, Ropo Akosile, Tosin, alias Tosco (a notorious criminal), Dada Fagbolagun and Michael Daramola, who was the Government House driver who 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.
He claimed that a high Chief in the town, 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 the governor’s thugs.
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