Ondo State gubernatorial election, scheduled for tomorrow, November 16, 2024, has taken a worrisome turn as reports of violence and intimidation continue to emerge.
Suspected political thugs, TRIBUNE ONLINE gathered, shot sporadically all through the night till the early hour of Friday.
The hoodlums commenced the shooting around midnight, as sporadic shootings rented the air, sending fears and warnings to the residents of the Oba Adesida and Oyemekun road.
The suspected political thugs armed with dangerous weapons were said to be about 70 in number, tore posters of some political parties along Oyemekun road.
With the busy Oba Adesida road deserted which also extended to Arakale axis of the city, those who were on their way to church were forced to turn back in order not to be caught in the web of the violent attack.
A resident who spoke with our correspondent explained that some policemen drafted for the Okuta Elerinla which is a few meters from the scene were drafted to the area.
He said the police operatives were able to disperse the thugs who later gathered at the area after the police left the scene, while the thugs who were said to be armed with guns, machetes, and other dangerous weapons took over the area.
“They threatened to kill anybody who voted against their interest, warning the people not to come out if they have contrary candidate to vote for”
Meanwhile, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Idanre in Idanre local government area of the state, has raised an alarm on importation of fake soldiers to different rural communities of the town.
A Chieftain of APC in Idanre, Hon. Kolawole Olomola, who disclosed this said the soldiers were imported into Idanre by a known PDP chieftain.
He added that the fake soldiers were seen riding on scores of motorcycles around midnight, saying he had received reports from rural community leaders of Idanre that fake soldiers had been sighted and hibernating in their communities.
He said the development had caused panic in the area, and said local intelligence confirmed the presence of the fake soldiers who were allegedly imported to Idanre to intimidate residents and supporters of APC.
He said the presence of the soldiers is to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the governorship election in the rural communities of Idanre.
Kolawole however expressed deep worry over the development and called on the security agencies to immediately fish out the fake soldiers to ensure the success of the election.
“I am calling on the relevant security agencies to immediately come to the rescue of the peace-loving people of Idanre.
“The needful must be done to dislodge, arrest, and prosecute these fake soldiers.
“We are peace-loving people in Idanre, and we are only craving for a peace election, and not war from fake soldiers”.
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