Metro
South West PDP Blames CP Mobayo for Violence, Killings During Ekiti East By-Election
*Ekiti CP Denies Policewoman’s Death, Warns Against Politicising Matters*
*INEC Voids Ekiti East By-election*
The South West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Mobayo, must be held responsible for the killing of a policewoman and two others during the House of Assembly bye-election in Ekiti East Local Government area of Ekiti State on Saturday.
In a statement by the Party’s Zonal Director of Media and Publicity, Lere Olayinka, the Police Commissioner was accused of shielding government thugs, even after credible evidence of their criminal acts were presented to him.
The party said it was sad that blood-letting always follow Fayemi’s footsteps whenever he is at the helm of affairs in Ekiti.
“During Fayemi’s first tenure, it was in this same Omuo Ekiti that Michael Ipinlaye and Kehinde Fajuyi were killed by his (Fayemi) thugs while Foluso Ogundare was killed in Akure Ekiti and Ayo Murphy Jeje and Juliana Adewumi were killed in Erijiyan Ekiti.
“Also, during the 2019 local government elections in which only APC contested, one person was killed in Ikere Ekiti,” Olayinka said.
Continuing, the PDP spokesperson said: “Sad that just because of a House of Assembly bye-election, a policewoman was killed in Omuo Ekiti today, by thugs unleashed on the people by the APC government of Dr Kayode Fayemi.
“May be the Police Commissioner in Ekiti State, Mobayo Babatunde will act now that one of his officers was killed in Omuo Ekiti today, by Fayemi’s thugs.
“When the thugs sent to assassinate me and Dayo Akinleye invaded GNN Hotel in Ado Ekiti on October 24, 2020, and CCTV footages were made available to the police, nothing was done.
“Today, the thugs have killed a policewoman and two other people.
“Let’s see what Ekiti State Police Commissioner will do this time around.
“And most importantly, let’s see if CP Mobayo will stop being complicit in government sponsored attacks in Ekiti State by arresting those killers led by Dele Omojola (Marshall) who invaded GNN Hotel in Ado Ekiti and attempted to kill myself and Hon Dayo Akinleye on October 24, 2020.
“As for us in the South-West PDP, the blood of that police woman and the two other people killed in Omuo Ekiti today, will be on the head of CP Mobayo because he refused to act decisively when he should.”
In his response, CP Mobayo denied the allegations, warning that no one should draw the Ekiti Police into politics. He added that the Command swung into action on getting wind of the violence, stressing that some ‘key suspects’ have already been arrested, and investigations have commenced.
“It should be noted that the police Command in Ekiti swung into action immediately the incident was reported and arrests were made of key suspects. Investigations have since commenced and all culprits shall be charged to court accordingly. The Command therefore warns against dragging the Nigeria Police, especially *CP TUNDE MOBAYO,* into politics, while also stating that the allegation, which is aimed at misleading and misinforming the good minds of the citizens, should be disregarded,” a statement signed by the Command’s PPRO, ASP Abutu Sunday said.
The Command also said that the policewoman is not dead, but in critical condition receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has suspended the Ekiti East By-election over the bloody violence.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Tella Adeniran, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti, said the commission suspended the poll following the violence unleashed on voters and officials of the electoral body by political thugs.
Adeniran explained that the election was peaceful until arm-wielding hoodlums stormed two polling units of ward 009 unit 008 and 009 and started shooting sporadically.
This development, the INEC boss, said led to the death of three voters while a police officer, Corps member and one of its staff sustained varying degrees of injuries.
A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has called for the dismissal of the soldier who resisted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The soldier had blocked Wike and officials of the FCTA from accessing a portion of land in the FCT.
The officer, claiming he was acting on instructions, told Wike that he would not be allowed into the property. Wike, however, questioned his authority, leading to a heated confrontation and name calling.
Reacting on Facebook, Igbokwe questioned who was behind the military officer in challenging the FCT Minister.
He wrote, “Who is this man in uniform? Of what meat is he fed? Who is beating the drum for him? This is unacceptable? His uniform has to be removed.”
The Lagos State Police Command has vehemently denied reports making the rounds that it was involved in the attempted release of a Lebanese national, who is in custody for the defilement of eight children.
The Police made the rebuttal via a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Lagos, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
In the statement titled, RE: OUTRAGE AS LAGOS POLICE ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPT TO RELEASE LEBANESE ACCUSED OF DEFILING EIGHT CHILDREN, the Police noted as follows:
“The Lagos State Police Command is not involved in any alleged attempt to release a Lebanese accused of defiling eight children.“
The story is therefore inaccurate and misleading.
The above case is being handled discreetly by the Gender Unit of the Command with the highest level of professionalism, diligence, and in line with international best practices, by specially trained gender case specialists.
Furthermore, the investigation strictly follows the standard operating procedures for cases involving children and young persons. The Gender Unit of the Command remains firmly committed to child protection and upholding due process in the pursuit of justice, without fear, favour, or sentiment toward anyone involved, whether a foreign national or Nigerian.
The case in question, which is under thorough investigation, does not involve any Lebanese, but rather a national of one of the Southern African countries. Every necessary step has been taken to ensure that justice is served in the matter. It is important to inform the public that both the biological mother of the child and the child herself made statements to the Police affirming that the child was neither molested nor defiled by the accused person.
However, the complaint by the child’s father, who has custody of the child, on his allegations against the accused person, is being carefully investigated to ensure justice in the matter and prevent any miscarriage of justice. The outcome of the investigation will definitely be made public.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has directed a discreet investigation into the allegations highlighted by the reporter in the report to ensure that no stone is left unturned in getting to the root of the matter . The writer of the story has also been contacted and briefed on the steps being taken by the Police to ensure that justice is achieved.
The Commissioner of Police furthermore wishes to reiterate his full confidence in the impartiality, competence, and high level of professionalism in the Officer-in-Charge of the Gender Unit, Lagos Police Command,Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Toyin Kazeem, who was officially out of the country on IACP in the United States when the matter was reported to the Gender Unit. Her exemplary track record, both locally and internationally, exemplifies her integrity, dedication, and commitment to handling gender-related and other sensitive cases. Under her leadership, the Gender Unit has brought pride to the Command and provided justice to numerous vulnerable persons, including women and children.
The Lagos State Police Command therefore urges the public and the media to continue to repose trust and confidence in the ability of the Command to deliver justice in all cases, particularly those involving children and other vulnerable groups. The outcome of this case will be made known to the public on completion of the investigation.
The family of former President Shehu Shagari has announced the death of his last surviving widow, Hajiya Saratu Shehu Shagari.
She passed away on Monday at the age of 89, after a prolonged illness.
A statement signed by the eldest son of the former president, Captain Mohammed Bala Shagari, confirmed that Saratu died at about 3 pm.
He described the late Hajiya Saratu as an embodiment of grace, humility, and quiet strength, who lived a life of dignity and service.
The family also said details of the funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.
