A state-wide campaign embarked upon by the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has ended on a violent note. At the grand finale held on Friday, at the Oke Paadi area of Ibadan, hoodlums opened fire on the unsuspecting crowd of party supports that had gathered to welcome the governor. And, at the ensuing melee, many were injured, including some policemen. One of the victims died at the nearby hospital where they were admitted.

Confirming the incident, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor, said the command has arrested 18 suspects in connection with the incident, and that the suspects will be thoroughly investigated: “Anyone found culpable among them will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

She said the state’s Commissioner of Police, Kola Sodipo, was saddened by the development and had “vowed to deal ruthlessly with political thuggery and hooliganism in the state.”

In a statement made available to journalists, Publicity Secretary of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Alliance (APC), Mr Wale Shadare, noted:

“The opposition parties – apparently overwhelmed by the success of the governor’s meet-the-people tour and distribution of letters of appointment to teachers – embarked on the violence to embarrass the governor and take the shine off the successful tour. Why was it that this happened on the last day of the tour? Why did they choose the governor’s local government to inflict the mayhem?”

He said that the party had eliminated violence in the state in the last three and half years, and abhors thuggery and violence, adding the APC government would not leave any stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

•Photo shows Governor Ajimobi.