By: Oluwatosin Adesola
Business and social activities were today paralysed for several hours at Idanre town and its environs in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State as residents staged protest against gruesome killing of a young man, simply identified as Taye by some political miscreants.
The killing was said to have been carried out on Wednesday night at Alade-Idanre by political thugs allegedly led by one Sunday Ogundiroyo (Aka Agarahu) and Bola Akinniranye.
The duo were alleged to be members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who had been unleashing mayhem on opposition party in Idanre community.
The victim, Taye, was said to be a staunch supporter of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the community.
His death has triggered political tension and panic in Idanre and neighbouring communities as protesters set bonfires at different points on the major roads of the local government headquarters.
Sources revealed that the deceased was trailed down to Alade area of Idanre by his killers where he was brutally hacked down.
According to a source, who preferred anonymity, “The man (Taye) was attacked and killed at Alade yesterday(Wednesday) around 9:00 pm and those who led the thugs to perpetrate the crime have run for cover, but we have declared them wanted.
“When has it become a crime to be a member of an opposition party in this state? These sponsored thugs killed the man because he simply put on the fez cap of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and was our main supporter in the community.
“The body of Taye has been deposited at the General Hospital in Idanre and police have begun the investigation into his killing.”
Mr. Ademehintoye Claudus, the Chairman of the ZLP in Idanre, who confirmed the incident, alleged that the thugs who killed Taye were sponsored by the chieftains of the APC who had been attacking members of the opposition parties in the Idanre community.
He said: “Taye was killed by the APC thugs yesterday because he was canvassing support for the ZLP being a member of our party.
“And what happened has also confirmed that the APC is calling for war in this election because they have been attacking us unchallenged.
“In fact, the party has broken the peace accord reached at the palace of the Monarch of Idanre with other political parties ahead of this contest.
“Although, we have appealed to our members and supporters to remain calm even in the face of this provocation and asked them not to take laws into their own hands.”
The ZLP chairman disclosed that they have informed the security operatives about the killing, adding that his party would seek justice for the family of the deceased.
Reacting, the Ondo State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alex Kalejaye denied involvement of the members of the ruling party, adding that APC didn’t need to kill before it would win any election.
He therefore sympathised with family of the deceased.
Confirming the killing, the Public Relations Officer for the state Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police Teo-Leo Ìkorò said “there was political skirmish last night in Idanre in which one person was killed. It was a mob action.
“But a detachment of Policemen had been sent to the town to maintain law and order.
“Investigation in the incident has commenced with intention to arrest culprits involved in the incident,” the PPRO said.
Meanwhile, some youths among the protesters, armed with dangerous weapons and chanting solidarity songs, said: “Enough is enough, we can’t take this any longer. We are not fools too, these people keep attacking us and killing our people because of election.”