From TUNDE RAHEEM, AKURE and AKEEB ALARAPE, Ibadan
Monday, February 5, 2007

Earlier on Saturday night, fresh fighting was recorded in the Oyo State capital between supporters of both politicians. One person was reportedly gunned down at the New Gbagi area of the Oyo State capital by gun-wielding supporters of the Oyo State deputy governor.

A detachment of mobile policemen was deployed to the troubled spot at Iwo Road area to forestall renewed fighting among the warring political supporters. At exactly 9.36am, an ALGON jeep dropped another batch of stern-looking anti-riot policemen at Iwo/Ibadan junction of the Iwo Road Interchange while a batch of plain-clothed securitymen armed with sophisticated guns patrolled Abayomi bus-stop on the popular Iwo Road in the city.

Military authorities in Ondo State have also deployed troops at strategic areas of the state capital to forestall further violence. More than 50 fully armed soldiers from the 33 Artillery Brigade were seen in military vehicles with registration numbers NA 192B01 and NA71B01.

At the PDP’s zonal rally in Akure on Saturday, four persons were reportedly killed while several others suffered injuries when supporters of the deputy governor clashed with the governor’s sympathisers after Alao-Akala had been endorsed as the party’s gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State in the forthcoming elections.

Eye witnesses of the Ibadan clash narrated how the hoodlums, armed with guns and machetes, stormed the busy Iwo Road Interchange and unleashed a fresh round of mayhem after news filtered in that Alao-Akala had been presented the party’s flag.

Their arrival, which the eye-witnesses said was announced by sporadic shootings, forced commuters, motorists and traders to abandon their wares and scamper to safety. The suspected hoodlums were said to have inflicted injuries on supporters and sympathizers of the state governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.
In the process, many were said to have received machete cuts while an unidentified person was said to have been gunned down at New Gbagi International Market area.

An eye-witness, Mr. Akeem Azeez told Daily Sun that a young man, with a deep cut on his head, was brought to Ti Oluwa Ni private hospital along Iwo Road during the mayhem. He was said to have been soaked in his own blood. Many traders and passersby, who had earlier sought refuge at the hospital, had to flee on sighting the victim of the clash.

A middle aged woman, who said she was coming from Ilesha when she was caught up in the trouble, also told Daily Sun that the gun-wielding hoodlums ordered all of them in the commuter vehicle that brought them from Ilesha to start shouting ‘Akala Ni Joo’, ‘Akala for 2007’, before they could be allowed to pass. That was after the hoodlums had allegedly checked all their faces and ascertained that they were not supporters of Ladoja who followed him to Akure for the rally.

Governor Ladoja has, however, condemned the violence that greeted the PDP rally at Akure, wondering why some people believed in the power of violence in the game of politicking.
The governor, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Prince Ade Adekanmbi, also debunked a media report that Ladoja held a meeting with Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in Abuja during his last visit to Aso Rock.

"The governor never met with the Vice-President nor had any appointment with him on Thursday. He was on a normal routine visit to the Presidency and had some chat with top officials of the Presidency", Adekanmbi stated, urging the people of the state to remain calm and peaceful and insisting that Ladoja remained the only credible candidate to deliver Oyo State to the PDP.

The Ondo State police Command, however, said on Sunday that it had arrested two people in connection with the fracas, while arms and ammunition were also recovered from them.
Evidence of the violent clash still abound at the time of filing this report as broken bottles and other dangerous weapons employed by the hoodlums littered the main entrance to the stadium.
The Police, however, said they had impounded some vehicles belonging to the Oyo State government over the mayhem.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Adeniran Aremu said: "It was reliably gathered that on 3rd of February 2007 outside the Ondo State Sports Complex where the PDP rally was held, some miscreants apparently from Oyo State attempted to disrupt the rally and thereby resorted to the use of dangerous weapons.

Police moved in swiftly and arrested two of them in whose possession were found 30 rounds of ammunition. Also a vehicle with registration Pilot 1 Oyo was found with four rifles and thereby was impounded. The driver of the vehicle escaped. Meanwhile, police investigation is still in progress to identify the barons of the offences committed."