Thugs attack Ekiti APC leader, injure eight policemen

Political thugs on Wednesday wounded eight policemen including a Divisional Police Officer when they attacked a political leader of the All Progressives Congress in Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State, Chief Joseph Alake.

Alake gave the revelation at the Political Stakeholders Meeting organised by law enforcement agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.

He revealed that the thugs invaded his house at about 11 a.m and fired several gunshots with sinister intention to kill him and members of his household because he had been the rallying point of the opposition party in Efon Local Government Area.

Alake said the Police had a hectic time arresting the thugs who dared them to shoot them and in the process injured eight police officers including the DPO of Ijero.

“These people came in at about 11 a.m and brandished dangerous weapons.

One of them even inflicted a machete wound on a boy in my house. They fired gunshots and threatened to burn down my house because of  my political affiliation. However, the quick intervention of the Area Commander of  Ijero and the SARS Commander saved the day.

“The SARS  and the Area Commander’s rescued me from the scene and took me to Ijero where I passed the night. I would have been killed but for quick intervention of the police,”  he stated.

The Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, who confirmed the attack at the forum said he immediately ordered his men to rescue Alake when he got the information.

He commended his men for displaying high level of professionalism in handling the incident, which he described as frightening  and barbaric.

He urged political parties to play the game in accordance with the dictate of the constitution and electoral laws.

“Endeavor to tolerate each other in the conduct of your electioneering campaigns and shun all kinds of vulgar/abusive language that can degenerate into violence.

“Let us have from you, timely report of the incidence around you to enable us nip-in-bud any ugly incidence that can mar the conduct of the election.

“Shun all acts of hooliganism in your campaign activities and the idea of moving out on campaign with offensive or destructive weapons because all your campaign would be covered by the police and anybody found wanting in this course would be severely dealt with,” Lakanu vowed.