The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 general elections, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, allegedly disrupted what had been a relatively peaceful local government election in Ogun State on Saturday. According to reports, Adebutu assembled a group of unauthorized policemen who opened fire on the All Progressives Congress (APC) vice chairmanship candidate in Ikenne Local Government, Hon. Muhammed Olaitan Efuwape, and a voter named Biola.
Hon. Efuwape narrowly escaped with injuries, while Biola was less fortunate, suffering severe leg injuries from the gunfire. He was promptly rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Sources claim that Adebutu illegally brought over 40 policemen from MOPOL 49 in Lagos. These officers, accompanied by PDP-aligned thugs riding on Okadas, allegedly attempted to disrupt the electoral process by snatching ballot boxes and displaying guns and other weapons in Ikenne Local Government in a bid to obstruct the voting process.
Further details revealed that Ladi Adebutu’s personal assistant, identified as Gafar Asaolu, led the group of unauthorized policemen in moving between polling units, allegedly intimidating voters. Asaolu was reported to have spearheaded the attack on Efuwape at his designated polling booth.
Upon arriving at the polling station, the illegal operatives reportedly opened fire, wounding both the Vice Chairman and Biola. However, enraged voters managed to overpower one of the policemen, disarmed him, and confirmed that he was indeed affiliated with MOPOL 49 in Lagos. Meanwhile, the other policemen were pursued by law enforcement agents and were seen retreating to Adebutu’s residence, where they sought refuge.
In the process of trying to apprehend the rogue officers, reports indicate that they fired upon law enforcement personnel, particularly targeting officers from the Department of State Services (DSS). The ensuing gunfire led to damage to DSS vehicles. A security source disclosed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, was promptly notified and ordered the Ogun State Police Commissioner, CP Abiodun Alamutu, to mobilize officers from MOPOL 16 and MOPOL 71 to locate and arrest the unauthorized policemen at their hideout.
While some of the officers reportedly escaped by scaling a fence, others were captured and taken into custody at the Ogun State Police Command headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.
“The mobile policemen were said to have opened fire on the DSS operatives, and upon learning of the development, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, was said to have given orders to a contingent from MOPOL 16 and MOPOL 71 to effect the arrest of everyone within the house,” a source confirmed.
At the polling booth, the attackers allegedly opened fire, injuring both the Vice Chairman and Biola once again. Outraged voters, determined to stop the violence, captured one of the officers, disarmed him, and confirmed his connection to MOPOL 49 in Lagos. Law enforcement chased down the rest of the operatives, who curiously made their way to Adebutu’s home to seek shelter.
As law enforcement agents attempted to detain the fleeing officers, the unauthorized policemen reportedly shot at DSS operatives, leading to damage to several DSS vehicles. Upon being alerted, the IGP, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, instructed officers from MOPOL 16 and MOPOL 71 to surround the location and ensure the arrest of everyone involved.
