Gunmen Linked to Adebutu Allegedly Attempt to Assassinate APC Vice Chair Candidate in Ogun
What was supposed to be a peaceful local government election in Ogun State took a violent turn on Saturday when gunmen, reportedly connected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 elections, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, attempted to assassinate Hon. Muhammed Olaitan Efuwape, the vice chairmanship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikenne Local Government Area.
According to sources, a group of illegal policemen, allegedly brought in by Adebutu, ambushed Efuwape at his polling unit and opened fire. Efuwape narrowly escaped death, sustaining injuries, while a voter named Biola was tragically hit by the gunfire, suffering severe leg injuries. Biola was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Reports suggest that Adebutu had brought in over 40 officers from MOPOL 49 in Lagos, alongside PDP thugs on motorcycles, to disrupt the electoral process in Ikenne. The armed group allegedly attempted to snatch ballot boxes and intimidate voters as they roamed the area, brandishing weapons.
Eyewitnesses say that Adebutu’s personal assistant, Gafar Asaolu, led the group, directing the illegal policemen to carry out the attack on Efuwape. Following the shooting, enraged voters managed to apprehend one of the gunmen, disarm him, and confirm that he was indeed from MOPOL 49 in Lagos.
The situation escalated when the remaining gunmen fled and took refuge at Adebutu’s residence. As law enforcement officers, including those from the Department of State Services (DSS), moved in to apprehend them, the gunmen reportedly opened fire, damaging the vehicles of the DSS operatives.
In response, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, was alerted and swiftly instructed the Ogun State Police Commissioner, CP Abiodun Alamutu, to mobilize MOPOL 16 and MOPOL 71 to arrest the illegal policemen. While some of the officers managed to escape by scaling the fence, several others were captured and taken into custody at the Ogun State Police Command in Eleweran, Abeokuta.
This violent episode has sparked concerns about the security of the electoral process in the state, with authorities continuing their investigation into the incident.
