Victor Ogunje in Ado-Ekiti
The combined force of the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday took over some suspected flashpoints in Ado Ekiti, the capital city of Ekiti State, following the violent protest staged by driver unions over the killing of a member, Mr. Tope Ajayi.
Tension rose in the early hours of yesterday as the protest staged by driver unions and the All Progressives Congress (APC) members triggered by the fear of a possible reprisal on members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Ajayi, who was a member of the Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), was allegedly shot dead in Itaji-Ekiti by political thugs when the APC and SDP clashed in the town.
The protest forced many people to cancel their churches and mosques services, as well as putting their residential buildings under lock and key to avoid being caught in the web, while the streets were deserted.
The roads to major places like Ijigbo, Odo-Ado, Okeyinmi, Atikankan and Ajilosun areas were blocked by the protesters, who brandished dangerous weapons, which forced motorists and commercial motorcyclists to take a detour to escape the beleaguered scenes.
Following the report, the Nigerian Army, Police and NSCDC swiftly mobilised to some flashpoints like Ijigbo, Atikankan, Basiri, Ajilosun and Ilawe road in the state capital with a view to avert looming reprisal.
Besides patrolling the streets in Hilux trucks to restore calm and normalcy, three Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) were stationed in various strategic locations in the state capital.
Normalcy has gradually returned to various parts of the Ado as residents, motorcyclists and motorists carried on with various activities following this swift deployment of security forces.
It was learnt that the Assumpta area, where Tosin Aluko’s motor park was located was still under locked down, but all the adjoining roads to the area remained quiet with a handful of individuals going about their normal activities.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Sunday Abutu, said his men had been able to quell the crisis and restored calm to Ado metropolis, after the early morning bedlam.
He added that the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Morounkeji Adesina, had ordered heavy deployment of anti-riot and plain-clothed policemen to some of the identified flashpoints across the state to ward off violence and bloodshed.
According to him, “The Police Commissioner and other security outfits have been trying to ensure that this election is violence- free, and other stakeholders, especially the political actors, must join us, because no election worth the blood of any citizen.
“Concerning what has been happening in the political scene, the CP had ordered full investigations into reported cases of shooting and disruption, and we are assuring you that those found guilty will be severely dealt with,” Abutu said.
