… as Oyebanji Suspends Dayo
Ibijowo (Ijaya)
Police in Ekiti State have
arrested 11 suspected political thugs in Ikun-Ekiti over an alleged plan to
disrupt the All Progressives Congress [APC] primary for the House of
Representatives in Ekiti North Federal Constituency II.
According to the State Commissioner
of Police, Falade Adegoroye, the arrests followed intelligence received at
about 9:00 pm on May 14 that armed men were gathered at a hotel in Ikun-Ekiti.
Operatives of the Rapid Response
Squad cordoned off the hotel and detained seven suspects: Adekunle Stephen,
Adepoju Adebayo, Boluwaji Ishola, Oluwatobi Adeoluwa, Akintunde Emmanuel,
Adewale Makanjuola, and Ibitola Babatope. Others were said to have fled in
three vehicles.
Recovered items included two
pump-action guns, a Beretta pistol, nine rounds of 9mm ammunition, four live
cartridges, substances suspected to be charms, two Apple laptops, and a Honda
Accord.
Police later intercepted an
unregistered Toyota Sienna carrying four of the fleeing suspects: Abanikanda
Sikiru, Dayo Ibijowo, Ajayi Dele, and Adegbite Damola and recovered another
pump-action gun from the vehicle.
During questioning, the suspects
allegedly said they were hired by Hon. Davidson Akinlayo, the current member
representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency II to disrupt the APC primary
scheduled for May 15, 2026.
A statement issued on Friday by
the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday said a manhunt is underway
for other fleeing members of the group and their alleged sponsor.
Meanwhile the State Governor, Mr
Biodun Oyebanji, has announced immediate suspension from office of Mr Dayo
Ibijowo ( aka Ijaya), following his arrest on Thursday by men of the Rapid
Respond Squad (RRS) in connection with alleged armed thuggery.
Ibijowo, an appointee of the
Governor, is one of the 11 suspected armed thugs arrested in Ikun- Ekiti and
paraded by the police on Friday. Police
authorities said they were hired by a serving member of the House of Representatives
to disrupt the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary
slated for Saturday.
According to a statement by the
Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, Ibijowo will remain
suspended pending the completion of investigation into the thuggery case.
Ibijowo’s suspension underscores
the BAO Administration’s zero tolerance for any act of lawlessness and
criminality.
Governor Oyebanji on Wednesday
concluded a violence- free campaign tour of the 16 local government areas of
the state, where he repeatedly emphasized the need for peaceful conduct amongst
politicians and supporters of political parties during and after the
electioneering season.
Reiterating his earlier appeal to
residents and other contestants in the
State to maintain the peace, Governor Oyebanji says no act of criminality will
be tolerated.
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