Ogun State was thrown into chaos on Saturday following a violent incident during the local government area (LGA) elections.
Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) after a confrontation involving illegal mobile policemen.
Reports indicate that the violent scene began when unauthorized officers from Mopol 46 in Lagos opened fire on the Vice Chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Muhammed Olaitan Efuwape, and a voter named Biola.
The illegal policemen were reportedly brought to the polling unit by Adebutu’s political associates to disrupt the election process.
According to an eyewitness, the shooting left Efuwape injured but alive, while Biola was less fortunate, sustaining severe leg injuries. The incident quickly escalated as angered voters subdued one of the illegal officers.
“Voters disarmed him and confirmed he was from Mopol 49 in Lagos,” a source told local media.
Following the shooting, the illegal officers fled, but they were tracked to Adebutu’s residence in the Ikenne Local Government area. There, a tense standoff between the officers and DSS personnel ensued.
In the ensuing firefight, the illegal policemen opened fire on the DSS operatives, damaging several vehicles. “The policemen opened fire, but some were arrested while others escaped,” said a source from the DSS.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, reportedly instructed Ogun State’s Commissioner of Police to assemble a team of Mopol officers to apprehend the culprits.
After several failed attempts by the fleeing policemen to escape by scaling the fence of Adebutu’s compound, some were apprehended and taken into police custody.
In response to the arrest, Ladi Adebutu and his media aides accused the ruling APC of orchestrating the violence.
Adebutu’s media assistant, Afolabi Orekoya, issued a statement denying any involvement in the illegal activities, claiming that APC thugs had attacked one of Adebutu’s sons near his house.
“There were thugs attacking all PDP members and supporters across Ogun East,” Orekoya stated, asserting that the violence was a result of APC’s desperation to retain power in the region.
He further accused the Ogun State government of inciting violence and thuggery. “The Governor has consistently promoted violence in Ogun East,” he alleged.
The PDP also maintained that the altercation at Adebutu’s residence was exaggerated by the government to tarnish Adebutu’s reputation. According to Orekoya, the police arrived at Adebutu’s residence without a warrant and detained him for about an hour before leaving.
“We were held hostage by armed policemen who came with tanks and armored trucks. They could not even show us a warrant for his arrest,” Orekoya claimed.
On the other hand, the Ogun State government has pointed fingers directly at Adebutu’s camp for orchestrating the election violence. According to a statement from the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Lekan Adeniran, Adebutu’s supporters were behind the firing on Efuwape and other electoral misconducts.
“We have credible reports that Adebutu’s supporters brought in over 40 policemen from MOPOL 49 to disrupt the election,” Adeniran stated. “These armed men were caught trying to snatch ballot boxes and harass voters across Ikenne Local Government.”
Governor Abiodun’s spokesperson further claimed that Ladi Adebutu’s personal assistant, Gafar Asaolu, was seen leading the illegal police officers as they went from one polling unit to another, intimidating voters and manipulating the election.
While the situation remains tense, sources within the Ogun State Police Command confirmed that investigations are ongoing into the involvement of Adebutu’s associates and the illegal police officers.
