By Our Reporter
Not fewer than four Persons including a businessman Chief Bode Olayinka (BOS) were wounded with property and goods worth millions of Naira destroyed when a group of Political Thugs led by one Gbenga Oluwafemi popularly known as Owolesu who is currently with the Ekiti State Police Command attacked some Chieftains of All Progressives Congress (APC), in Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
The attack was not unconnected with an attempt by a group being alleged to be loyal to a former Deputy Speaker and Commissioner Designate in Ekiti State, Hon. Oladapo Karounwi to silence other Aspirants in order to impose their preferred Candidates ahead of local government election coming up in December this year.
Narrating his ordeals to newsmen at the premises of Ekiti State Police Command in Ado Ekiti, one of the Victims of the attack with plaster on his forehead, Mr. Olaitan Olayinka said the Assailants who were more than 20 in number came to attack them with cutlasses, Dame Gun and other dangerous weapons at the front of their family house while relaxing on Monday evening.
“My name is Olaitan Olayinka, a youger brother to Chief Bode Olayinka (BOS), I am an event Planner staying in Efon after my retirement as a Civil Servant, and I’m also interested in contesting as Chairman of my local government area which is Efon. There is a group of Political thug s led by one Gbenga Oluwafemi which was created and named G9, by Hon. Karounwi and he has been using them to get whatever he wants either by force or other means.
“And this time around, they are saying, they don’t want any other Aspirant to contest against Hon. Karounwi Oladapo’s preferred Candidate who happens to be his personal Driver, one Niyi Babalola but I have maintained my ground that I will contest and win because there is a freedom of association and that, anyone who emerges during the primary election will be supported by all.
“But, on 31st of July, 2023 during a masquerade festival in Efon, the thugs had wanted to forcefully removed a cap I did as part of my political awareness strategies ahead of the poll from one of my supporters, Mr. Boboye Olamilekan (JEKOMO) and when the guy refused to surrender it, they descended on him, beat and tore his clothes.
“Immediately the boy came to report to me, I begged him that I didn’t want to fight with anybody now since election is still far and I put a call across to Chief Jeje who happens to be one of APC Stalwarts in Efon to inform him about the development. Chief Jeje later called back to inform me that he had warned the leader of the group, Oluwafemi (Owolesu) to henceforth stop the nonsense he was doing.
“I thought everything was settled not until around 8:00pm when I, my brother Chief Bode Olayinka, my Sister, Mrs. Jumoke Oladaiye all of the same parents and others were sitting at the front of our family house taking some drinks and pepper soup when we saw the group led by Gbenga Oluwafemi again moving round the streets and they came to us that everybody should leave the place and Oluwafemi said, he has been billed to kill Chief Bode Olayinka and destroy the entire place, we were just looking at him in amaze.
“One Boy, then questioned his authority that, he bought his drink and that he cannot just ask him to leave because he came there to enjoy himself. Oluwafemi ( Owolesu) immediately took a bottle and smashed it at his leg. And my brother, Chief Olayinka now intervened and said, “why are you doing this in my presence Owolesu”? but he replied that it’s you (BOS) that I have even come to kill, then Oluwafemi’s daughter, Blessing who was part of the Attackers took a Chair and hit my brother (Bode Olayinka) at head. Then, they entered my shop where I sell beers in wholesale, destroyed many cartons, used bottles and other dangerous weapons to attack anyone they see and also vandalised nearly all the glasses in our house.
Along the line, I was just trying to protect my brother, Chief Olayinka because is an elderly man and I don’t want him to be killed and one of them also hit my head with weapon and blood started gushing out from our body.
“It took the intervention of the Military Personnel who came to rescue us before we were allowed to go to General Hospital for treatment. We called the Police in Efon but they couldn’t come, they said the boys will attack them. The military personnel later arrested the leader of the Gang, Gbenga Oluwafemi (Owolesu) and handed him over to the Police”.
Mr. Olayinka said, four of them with their heads being plastered were at the Police Headquarters in Ado Ekiti to make a formal statement with the Police.
While blaming the scenario of Gbenga Oluwafemi and his group on Governor Oyebanji’s Commissioner-Designate, Mr. Karounwi, the APC Chieftain said Karounwi’s support and encouragement for them have been causing a lot of crisis within the APC in Efon Local Government Area of the State.
He however called on the State Governor to intervene and safe his family members and the Party from further attacks that can lead to political explosion in the Area.
When contacted to confirm the authenticity of the incident, the Ekiti State PPRO, DSP Abutu Sunday said, the Command, upon receiving the information, swung into action and investigated the incident. Adding that the arrested suspect has been charged to court for prosecution.
