Police Apprehend Three Suspects Involved In Ekiti Bye-Election Killing

Ekiti State Police Command has arrested three suspects identifies as Sola Adenijo aka Solar, Sheri, and one Folly from Ijero Ekiti over the violence that erupted on Saturday during the Ekiti East State Constituency 1 by-election.

Police Commissioner Tunde Mobayo, who confirmed the report to AllNews Nigeria said the suspected thugs were apprehended in their hideout on Sunday evening and have been detained at the police headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

AllNews Nigeria earlier reported that the suspected thugs, on Saturday, shot dead three persons while five others sustained gunshot wounds during the by-election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Suspected Killers To Face Murder Charge

Recall that Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi during his visit to the scene of violence stated promised not to politicize the killings.

Fayemi said the perpetrators of the violence that led to the death of three persons in Omuo-Ekiti will be charged with murder today.

He prayed against a recurrence of the incident, saying his government would not tolerate violence and other manifestations of brigandage that could trigger hatred among the residents.

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Fayemi said prior to the election, he had engaged Olujimi and other major stakeholders in the community on the need for the peaceful conduct of the by-election and the progress of the constituency.

The governor told journalists at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido- Ekiti that he was disturbed by the violence during the election.
He said: “There is no election that is worth the blood of any citizen of this state.

“This is unacceptable and those who are found culpable will have to face the maximum wrath of the law, but that can’t bring back those whose lives have been lost.

“I have visited all those who were injured and I have assured their family members and I have also spoken to the Chief Medical Director here and I think they are being looked after with competent care.
“Government shall be responsible for all the expenses of the people who were injured and those who have lost family members too whatever we can do to reduce the level of pain, the government will try and do that.”

INEC To Release Electoral Banditry

Furthermore, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised not to surrender to what it called “electoral banditry” which could discredit the electoral process and pre-determine the outcomes.

INEC's National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, announced this during an interview with newsmen on Sunday.

The commissioner said the decision was meant to preserve the integrity of the country’s elections as well as safeguard the lives of citizens.

He stressed that for INEC to proceed with any election in the face of brazen violence that had compromised the integrity of such a poll would amount to dereliction of its electoral duty.

Okoye said the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State (REC) issued a statement detailing the level of violence unleashed on voters, election officials, and security personnel on election duty.