Police arraign 98 suspected political thugs in Ekiti

Oyo CP charges parents to warn wards against violence

The police, yesterday, arraigned 98 suspected political thugs before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged threat to public peace, violence and unlawful procession of deadly weapons.

Four counts bordering on violence and lawful possession of firearms were slammed on the suspects. Police prosecutor, Samson Osubu, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on January 25, 2022 at Itawure along Efon Alaaye highway at Osun and Ekiti states border.

Soldiers had on Wednesday arrested the men suspected to be political thugs at Ita Ore, Efon Alaaye, Efon Local Council of Ekiti.

The prosecutor said the suspects were seen in 11 vehicles with unlicensed arms to cause terror from Ibadan, Oyo State, heading to Ado Ekiti for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election.

He added that they unlawfully have in their possession, two pump action guns, three locally made pistols, six dane guns, 98 cartridges, knives, cutlass and charms.

According to him, the offences contravene Sections 516, 80, 88 and Section 4 of the Criminal Code and punishable under Section 27(b) (c) of Firearms Act Laws of Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004.

The prosecutor asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and assemble his witnesses. But the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

Their counsel, Mr. Odunayo Okunade, Mr. Busuyi Ayorinde and Mr. Chris Omokhafe, urged the court to grant them bail, with a promise that they would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Titilayo Ola-Olorun, in her ruling, granted the suspects bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum, as she adjourned the case till February 23 for mention.

MEANWHILE, Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, has urged parents, guardians to warn their wards against being used by criminals to disrupt the peace in the state.

Onadeko gave the warning following the attack on an operative of Special Tactical Squad (STS) en-route Lagos from Abuja by some suspected hoodlums.

In a statement, yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Adewale Osifeso, explained that upon receipt of information of the attack, the command’s tactical and operational assets were deployed promptly.

“This led to the rescue of an operative inflicted with deep machete cuts and the recovery of two AK-47 rifles. No life was lost in the incident,” he added.