Thugs suspected to be members of both the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) clashed yesterday in Gbonyin and Irepodun/Ifelodun local government areas of Ekiti state, after which four members of APC were allegedly abducted..

APC spokesman in the state, Mr. Taiwo Olatubosun alleged it was the supporters of Governor Ayo Fayose who attacked vehicles of his party’s members, destroying the billboards and posters of its candidates for the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

The abducted members, according to Olatubosun, include 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.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, however, said that what was reported to his office was a case of attack by some yet-to-be identified thugs on the vehicles of some government officials, adding that the police have begun investigations on the development.

According to a statement by the APC, the thugs armed with guns and machetes stormed Igbemo-Ekiti where they disrupted APC ward meeting. A car belonging to the party’s ward chairman was damaged while several members were attacked in an orgy of violence that lasted several minutes Thursday night.

According to Olatubosun, they came back in the night unleashing worse violence, abducting four members in the process.

“They started their raids from Ijan-Ekiti where they shot sporadically in 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,” 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.

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. 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 the governor’s thugs.

•Adapted from Saturday Sun.

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