Ondo Decides: Alleged Political Thugs Injure 10 Persons, Destroy 20 Vehicles

Another political violence erupted in Ipele, Owo council area of Ondo state as political thugs injured no fewer than ten persons, destroyed vehicles and other properties in the town.
In all no fewer than 20 vehicles were destroyed, several motorcycles burnt.

The two major political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party a d the All Progressive Congress however traded blames.

The Peoples Democratic Party alleged that the campaign team of its governorship candidate Eyitayo Jegede was attacked in lpele, Owo area of the state by thugs loyal to governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

It alleged that policemen in the town supervised the attack on the campaign train. A statement by the Eyitayo campaign organisation signed by its Head, Media Research, Kayode Fasua in Akure said that” the APC-led government of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu has continued its pursuit of promoting violence in this election.

Fasua said that:

“Our campaign team was yet again attacked by members of the APC in Ipele who had blocked access to the palace of the king and the maternal home of the PDP candidate in a bid to deny him access to both places earlier scheduled to be visited by Mr. Eyitayo Jegede SAN.

“Prior to our entry into Ipele, touts and miscreants under the APC had unleashed terror on our members with several casualties.

“These miscreants were dispersed by a joint team of police and NSCDC officers. ” The DPO of Ipele is alleged to have not only supervised the assault but also arrested six members of the PDP including the youth leader whose hands had been broken by the attackers and beaten to a coma.

“We would like to warn the APC and its outgoing government to know very clearly that no single individual has the monopoly of violence.

“While we are very cautious about the broad implication of promoting violence in this election, we however would not be intimated in our pursuit of victory in at the polls.

“For the records, the Divisional Police Officer in Ipele Police Station is hereby reported to the police authorities for gross negligence of his duties to protect the people and collusion with the APC to harass and intimidate our members. ”

We also call for the immediate and unconditional release of our members who were arrested and are being detained on the orders of the DPO and may be charged by the police on trumped up charges.

“We also call on the police authorities to warn its officers to abide by the rules and not to serve as agents of provocation in the hands of this government.