Polls: Violence hits Ekiti, Oyo, Delta, Niger, others

Security remained the issue yesterday – eight days to the first of the three-leg elections – as pre-election violence continued unabated.

Two persons were shot dead at a political meeting in Delta State. One was killed in Ekiti. Youths stoned Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu’s convoy and Nasarawa State Governor Akwe Doma’s campaign was disrupted in Lafia.

In Ibadan, thugs attacked a rally by the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Senator Abiola Ajimobi. Fifteen people were injured. Twenty vehicles were damaged.

ACN governorship candidate John Udoedehe was detained in Abuja by the Police over Tuesday’s violence in which nine ACN supporters died. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the ACn was the aggressor.

Violence is mounting, despite President Goodluck Jonathan’s order to security agents to arrest culprits.

In Bayelsa State, guns boomed at a campaign rally addressed by the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Timi Alaibe, in Yenagoa.

A bomb scare sent residents of Abuja scampering for safety and the police combing the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Bayelsa State House.

In Ekiti, the latest in the spate of killings, which started about a month ago, continued on Wednesday night, with the abduction and murder by unknown assailants of Hon Toyin Akinlade, the organising secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ido–Osi Local Government Area.

Akinlade, a businessman in Ilogbo, was killed at about midnight.

It was alleged that the vehicle that conveyed the assailants was earlier sighted in Iropora-Ekiti, which is about 20 kilometres to Ilogbo where they were alleged to have shot two members of the party.

It was gathered that the assasins posed as customers to give them access to Akinlade whom they bundled and took him to the bush where he was shot dead.

In Ijero-Ekiti, four students of the School of Health Technology were yesterday abducted by people suspected to be kidnappers.

Police spokesman Jimoh Mohammed, who confirmed the abduction, said they had been released.

A school official said a combined force of a vigilance group and some members of the Ijero community freed the students.

In Ibadan, not long after hundreds of ACN supporters converged on the ever-busy Gate in Ibadan North Local Government Area, thugs wielding cutlasses, club, bottles , guns and other dangerous weapons alighted from buses and began to unleash mayhem on them.

Many were injured in the stampede which followed the action.

An official of the party, Mr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, linked the attackers to some men belonging to the state chapter chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

Spokesman of the Ajimobi campaign organisation Mr. Yanju Adegbite condemned the action.

Oyo police spokesman Tunji Ajimuda confirmed the attack on the AC N rally. He said the police were investigating. He said four people have been arrested.

Gun shots rang out at the Labour Party’s campaign rally at the Redeemed Christian Church of God Field in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State yesterday – an incident reminiscent of the first rally by the LP at Opokuma, the country home of the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Timi Alaibe.

The shots started flying as the National Chairman of LP Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, was speaking.

Supporters at the rally scampered to safety but people were urged to be calm.

But the shots died down in less than five minutes. They were apparently fired to scare away people and disrupt the rally. No one died.

Bayelsa police spokesman Egwavon Emokpai, an Assistant Superintendent, said he was not aware of the shootout.

The rally was attended by Chief Peremobowei Ebebi, who was heralded in as the state’s authentic Deputy Governor; Chief Rufus Spiff, the Campaign director of the LP; Walter Feghabo, the LP Senatorial candidate for East district, Chief Douye Diri and Chief Fyneman Wilson, a one- time PDP chieftain. Pandemonium broke out in Ibusa, Oshimili North local government area, Delta State, after a young man was stabbed to death and seven others got injured as security men opened fire on a group of youths.

Many parents withdrew their children from schools. Shop owners closed them down as the fighting escalated.

The deceased, identified as Chizem, it was learnt, hailed from Ewulu Community, a few kilometers from the scene of the clash

A witness said another person died as the youths tried to avenge the death of their colleague.

The shots were fired by security men attached to a socialite. Seven youths were hit by bullets.

The incident which occurred at the Umoudafe quarters inside the socialite’s home led to the attack on the house by angry youths.

According to source, it was during a political meeting at the home of the socialite ahead of the elections.

Police spokesman Mr. Charles Muka confirmed the killing but said he was unaware it was politically-motivated.

He said a heated argument between the two youths resulted in the stabbing to death of one of them and that the culprit had been apprehended.

Muka said: “I don’t want to be drawn into any talk of where the incident happened. I know it took place at Ibusa. One person was killed and the culprit has been arrested. It has nothing to do with politics.”