Former Ekiti Governor, Oni, Others Attacked By Armed Hoodlums During Political Event

On Wednesday, the convoy of Chief Segun Oni, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the June 18 Ekiti governorship election, was ambushed at Efon Alaaye in the state’s Efon Council area.

On their way to the town for the former governor’s consultative meetings with SDP members in the council area, members and supporters of the party were attacked with rifles, cutlasses, and other hazardous weapons, according to reports.

The bandits allegedly fired shots into the air, prompting bystanders to flee.

According to a source, vehicles were damaged, and numerous members of the SDP party were injured to varied degrees.

Campaign Director, Media and Publicity, Jackson Adebayo in a statement titled, “Oni escapes assassination in Efon as APC thugs attack convoy,” said the attack came after the former governor had successfully toured nine local government areas in the exercise which began on Monday.
 
“Shortly after the Efon Local Government members and supporters of the SDP had converged at the venue to wait for the arrival of the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Oni, the thugs started to shoot guns and attacked the SDP supporters with sticks and cutlasses.
 
“Some supporters were badly injured and vehicles in the convoy were damaged by thugs before the arrival of a detachment of police which overpowered the thugs.”
 
The spokesperson for the state police command, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident, saying the “hoodlums went to the venue to disrupt the consultation process of the SDP candidate, Engr Oni”.

He said the police were able to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order, adding that an investigation into the incident had begun.