Adebayo Adenrele
The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested and paraded 11 suspected political thugs allegedly hired to disrupt the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Federal House of Representatives scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Addressing journalists during a press conference in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Michael Falade said the Command had deployed adequate security personnel, including tactical and intelligence units, across the state ahead of the APC primary election to ensure a peaceful, credible and hitch-free exercise.
According to the police, the operation yielded results on Thursday night following credible intelligence that armed hoodlums were sighted at Onikoyi Hotel in Ikun-Ekiti.
The Commissioner explained that operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) were immediately deployed to the hotel where seven suspects were arrested while others reportedly escaped in three vehicles.
The arrested suspects were identified as Adekunle Stephen, Adepoju Adebayo, Boluwaji Ishola, Oluwatobi Adeoluwa, Akintunde Emmanuel, Adewale Makanjuola and Ibitola Babatope.
Items recovered from the suspects included two pump-action guns, one Beretta pistol, nine rounds of 9mm live ammunition, four live cartridges, substances suspected to be criminal charms, two Apple laptops and a Honda Accord car allegedly belonging to one of the suspects.
The police further disclosed that operatives later intercepted an unregistered Toyota Sienna bus conveying four additional suspects believed to have escaped from the hotel during the initial raid.
The additional suspects were identified as Abanikanda Sikiru, Dayo Ibijowo, Ajayi Dele and Adegbite Damola while a pump-action gun was also reportedly recovered from the vehicle during a search.
The Command stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects confessed to being political thugs hired by Hon. Davidson Akinlayo, a serving member of the House of Representatives representing the Moba/Ilejemeje/Ido-Osi Federal Constituency, to destabilise the APC primary election.
Police authorities stated that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing gang members as well as their alleged sponsor.
The Commissioner warned individuals and groups against engaging in acts capable of disrupting public peace during the ongoing political activities in the state, stressing that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, would deal decisively with offenders in accordance with the law.
His words, “Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections for the Federal House of Representatives slated for 15th May, 2026, I ordered the deployment of adequate security across the State, including the deployment of Tactical and Intelligence Units for visibility patrols and intelligence gathering in order to ensure a free, fair, credible and hitch-free exercise.
“This proactive measure emplaced paid off as the Command, on the 14th May, 2026, at about 21:00hrs, received a credible information that a group of suspected inte hoodlums armed with dangerously weapons were sighted inside Onikoyi Hotel, Ikun-Ekiti.
“Upon receipt of the information, I directed the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to cordon off the Hotel and ensure the arrest of those suspects. During the operation, one Adekunle Stephen, Adepoju Adebayo, Boluwaji Ishola, Oluwatobi Adeoluwa, Akintunde Emmanuel, Adewale Makanjuola and Ibitola Babatope were arrested while other gang members escaped with about three vehicles.
“Items recovered from the arrested hoodlums are; two Pump Action guns, one Beretta Pistol, nine rounds of 9mm live ammunition, four live cartridges, substance suspected to be criminal charm, two Apple Laptops and a Honda arr thre Accord car belonging to one of the suspects.
“Further efforts intensified by the operatives led to the interception of an unregistered Toyota Sienna Bus live conveying four of the suspects who earlier escaped from the hotel. They are; Abanikanda Sikiru, Dayo Ibijowo, Ajayi Dele and Adegbite Damola. The vehicle was searched and one Pump Action gun was recovered.
“During investigation, the arrested hoodlums confessed that they are political thugs hired by one the Honorable Davidson Akinlayo, a serving member of the House Int of Representatives, representing Moba/Ilejemeje/Ido-Osin constituency, to destabilize the primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled to commence on 15th May, 2026.
“The suspects will be charged to court after the completion of the investigation. Meanwhile, effort is underway to ensure the arrest of other fleeing gang members and their sponsor.
“Citizens are advised to be law-abiding, desist from all acts that could jeopardize the peaceful atmosphere currently being enjoyed in the State, as the Command, in ung collaboration with other security agencies, will deal decisively and in accordance with the law, with any person or group of persons who wants to cause breach of peace before, during and after this electioneering period”.
