Security Operatives Take Over Ekiti, Arrest APC Leaders
Security operatives reportedly harassed some prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State ahead of today’s governorship election in the state.
According to report from Sahara Reporters, the security operatives comprising the army, mobile police and State Security Services (SSS) went on rampage, arresting and terrorising people.
Those arrested include, Mr. Olaiya Popoolati who was picked up by the security men in Iye Ekiti, the headquarters of Ilejemeje Local Government, and taken to an unknown destination.
The wife of another leader of the party, Chief Kehinde Babatola was picked up as her husband was not at home when they stormed his residence.
In Epe Ekiti in Moba Local Government area, the agents picked up Femi Fadare while 10 men who were watching the football match between France and Switzerland were arrested in in Ado Ekiti, the state capital on the suspicion that they were APC members.
An APC leader in Iye Ekiti, Chief Folorunsho Olabode reacting to the arrest, described it as an attempt to intimidate the people of Ekiti so that they do not exercise their civic rights during the elections, adding that
they will not allow the state to be turned into a war zone.
Meanwhile, there reports that soldiers invaded the home Director General of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s campaign organization, Bimbo Daramola’s house in Ire-Ekiti but he had left home before their invasion. He however disclosed that his 84-year old father had been thoroughly harassed by the soldiers.
Sahara Reporters gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan sent 36,000 security agents to Ekiti for the gubernatorial elections. Among them are 12,340 regular policemen; 3170 anti-riot policemen; 4,280 soldiers; 1800 Nigerian secret police operatives and 15 civil defense personnel.
Some days back, the APC had accused the PDP-led federal government of militarizing Ekiti State as they had stopped the governors of Kano, Rivers and Edo from attending the APC governorship campaign rally in Ado-Ekiti.
The presidency had debunked this accusation, saying, Jonathan’s administration which has been most tolerant of opposition is committed to free and fair elections.
Source: Naij
