Thugs suspected to be supporters of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, stormed some communities in Gbonyin and Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Areas on Friday, attacking supporters of the All Progressives Congress and destroying the billboards and posters of its candidates in the March 28 and April 11general elections.
According to a statement by state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Taiwo Olatubosun, the thugs, armed with guns and machetes, stormed Igbemo-Ekiti where they disrupted an APC ward meeting.
A car belonging to the ward chairman was damaged, while several members were attacked in an orgy of violence that lasted several minutes.
According to Olatubosun, the thugs allegedly came back in the night unleashing fiercer violence, abducting four members in the process.
Olatubosun 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’ 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 added that the thugs returned to Igbemo-Ekiti at night in three Hilux vans, allegedly 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’s and Odu’s homes.
“It was during their night visit that these men in military uniform abducted Chief Peter Akinsola, popularly known as Pitoro, the elder brother of the Ward Chairman, Olusola Bello; Olujimi Ogunade; and 22-year-old Adefemi Ojo.”
Investigation, the APC claimed, has revealed that the abducted men are illegally detained at Fayose’s task force office along Iyin Road in Ado Ekiti.”
Olatubosun listed Peoples Democratic Party members allegedly seen working with the thugs as Folorunso, Niran, Basiru Ajagbemokeferi, Ropo Akosile, Tosin (alias Tosco), Dada Fagbolagun and Michael Daramola, who was the Government House driver that 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 allegedly 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.