Confusion as cop shoots ex-Rep, 5 others at Fayemi’s rally

 

  A home coming reception for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in next month’s election in Ekiti State, Dr.Kayode Fayemi, turned bloody in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, last night.

   A mobile policeman opened fire as Fayemi, surrounded by scores of party chieftains, was leaving  APC’s state secretariat to move to the city centre in continuation of  the rally. A former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, and five other people were hit by bullets. Bamidele was struck in the belly.

   APC last night gave the names of the other victims as Olabode Joshua, Olanrewaju Gbenga, Adebayo Ogunjemilehin, Ogunmodede Oluwole and Alex Adeleye, and alleged that the real target was Fayemi himself. Governor Ayodele Fayose said the attack was self-induced. His spokesman, Lere Olayinka, said the bullet that hit Bamidele and others was  “fired by one of the armed mobile policemen who accompanied Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.” The wounded people  were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

   The suspected policeman was overpowered and disarmed by angry party members who also gave him  the beating of his life. He was saved from possible death  by his colleagues. Police sources said last night that he was on an illegal duty. Confusion enveloped the  scene as bullets rang out and people ran for dear lives. Moment before the shooting, Fayemi had driven to the premises in the company of his wife, Bisi.

   Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; his running mate Chief Bisi Egbeyemi; former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; Secretary to the  Ondo State Government, Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde and other senior party figures had all accompanied Fayemi from the Akure Airport to Ekiti State where they were received by a massive crowd. The suspect was seen helping to keep the surging  crowd at bay when the unexpected happened: he began shooting in the direction of Fayemi and other dignitaries.

    Police sources said last night that the suspected policeman was on illegal duty. Chukwuemeka said a detailed report of the incident was still being compiled. Handling the assignment is the  Assistant Commissioner in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). Chukwuemeka promised to get back when the official report of the incident gets to his table. A senior officer at Ekiti State Command who asked not to be quoted denied speculation that the culprit was a fake officer.

  But he said the suspect was on illegal duty in  Ekiti State. “The man who fired gunshots at the APC secretariat is not a fake MOPOL officer. He is a genuine officer, but he came to Ekiti on illegal duty,” the source said. “He is attached to MOPOL 20 in Lagos but followed a politician to Ekiti. “He is not on official duty to Ekiti. He is receiving treatment at a secured environment and investigation continues.”