As political crisis escalates…Dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on Ekiti

The political crisis rocking Ekiti State took a turn for the worse yesterday, with violent protests and arson by thugs causing panic in some parts of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. It left at least one person dead, while several buildings were torched, leading to the imposition of a curfew on the state.The state governor, Kayode […]

The political crisis rocking Ekiti State took a turn for the worse yesterday, with violent protests and arson by thugs causing panic in some parts of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. It left at least one person dead, while several buildings were torched, leading to the imposition of a curfew on the state.
The state governor, Kayode Fayemi, imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew to halt the spread of violence. Weekly Trust gathered that palpable tension gripped the city early Friday (yesterday), following news of the murder of a former state chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Omolafe Aderiye.
Aderiye, a staunch supporter of Ekiti Governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose, was shot dead in front of his office located at Ijigbo area of Ado Ekiti around 8.30pm on Thursday. Sources said the deceased, who was with a friend during the incident, was shot by a four-man gang in mobile police uniforms who rode in an unmarked Volkswagen Golf.
It was gathered that the ex-NURTW leader was shot several times in the stomach, at very close range by the assassins who fled soon after. An eyewitness said: “Immediately he was shot, he started staggering but the killers pursued him, shooting him some more, until he fell. They made sure he was dead before they left.”
Sorrow, tears and blood
The source added that the deceased was rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital on a commercial motorcycle where he was confirmed dead and the body dropped in the morgue of the hospital. However, as soon as the news of the death became public, his supporters went on a rampage, wielding cutlasses and broken bottles as they lit bonfires on highways.
They also set ablaze the state secretariat of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the campaign office of Governor Kayode Fayemi, and three campaign vehicles parked on the premises situated at Ajilosun.
Some properties belonging to notable APC leaders in the state were also vandalized or set ablaze by the aggrieved supporters. The tensed situation forced commercial vehicles and motorcycles off the roads. Also commercial houses, including banks and filling stations were hurriedly shut down.
Sympathizers who besieged the deceased’s family house at Olokemeji Odo Ado, along Federal Polytechnic Road were tear-gassed by policemen. Motor parks in the metropolis were also deserted as the protesters took positions there. By evening, policemen had taken strategic positions, patrolling roads.
A history of violence
Ado-Ekiti has been on the boil since last Monday when thugs violently invaded a court in session and attacked the presiding judge, Justice O. Ogunyemi who was entertaining   a case before his court about the eligibility of the Governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose to even contest the last governorship election in the state. The case was instituted against Fayose by a group which goes by the nomenclature of E11. Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice A. Daramola, said in a statement that the court sitting was disrupted and litigants physically assaulted.
Not yet done, another set of political thugs on Thursday unleashed the second attack on another court, which affected a judge identified as   Justice John Adeyeye, and other judiciary staff. The judge was reportedly beaten and his clothes torn for allegedly being rude to the Governor-Elect.  
The chaos it generated forced suspension of the Ekiti State Governorship Election petition Tribunal sitting slated to hold that day at the High court. The on-going violence is believed to have been the fallout of what started last Monday.
Governor Fayemi said in a broadcast: “On Monday, September 22, thugs acting on the incitement of an interested party, were involved in the sacrilegious sacking of the court while hearing on a political case was in progress. This happened in full glare of the law enforcement agents with inappropriate response. Clearly, these brigands exceeded the limits of acceptable behavior, even in the most liberal of democracies, and ventured into the realm of blatant criminality with this desecration of the hallowed chambers of the law.”
The Ekiti State police command said it is on the trail of the gunmen. Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Victor Babayemi pleaded with the people to remain calm as the police are working to arrest the culprits.
Reacting, the All Progressives Congress (APC) called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Governor-elect Fayose for allegedly leading a band of thugs to beat up a Judge. In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said since Mr. Fayose does not yet enjoy any immunity from arrest and prosecution, he should immediately be arrested.