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The Ondo State Police Command says it has arrested 13 persons in connection with the violent attack during the ward congress of the All Progressives Congress in the state on February 18.
The violence which became fatal in Idanre left two persons dead.
Political thugs first attack a stakeholders meeting called by the state party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, disrupting the meeting and leaving many injured.
Sources say a counter attack was staged in Idanre which resulted in fatalities.
Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, in a statement on Saturday, said the arrests followed a carefully coordinated, intelligence-led operation ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal.
He said the move was to ensure that all perpetrators were identified and brought to justice.
He confirmed that the attack resulted in the tragic loss of two lives, injuries to three persons, and the destruction of property.
prompted the Commissioner of Police to immediately direct an intensive intelligence-driven manhunt to track down all individuals connected to the violence.
The names of the suspects as given by the police are, Adewusi, male, 38 years; Dele, male, 28 years;Akinkurole, male, 38 years; Victor, male, 30 years; Abbas, male, 30 years; Michael, male, 35 years; Jolojolo, male, 36 years;Ifedayo, male, 38 years;Olamilekan, male, 25 years;Emmanuel, male, 25 years; Sunday, male, 49 years;Michael , male, 55 years and Monday, male,25 years.
”The suspects are currently in police custody and have made useful statements that is aiding ongoing investigations,” said Mr Jimoh.
” The Command is diligently working to unravel the full circumstances surrounding the attack, identify any additional collaborators, and determine the specific roles played by each suspect.”
He said the Commissioner of a police in the state is resolved to ensure that all those involved in the heinous act are brought to justice.
”The Commissioner warns individuals or groups contemplating acts capable of disturbing public peace that the Command will not hesitate to deploy its full operational capacity to deal decisively with such threats,” he said.
” Residents of Idanre and the entire people of Ondo State are once again urged to remain calm, law-abiding, and to continue cooperating with the Police by providing useful and timely information that can aid ongoing investigations and enhance collective security efforts.”
The clash was a climax of a smoldering rivalry between the Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Mr Adetimehin, who is the outgoing chairman of the party in the state.
Sources within the party indicate that what was at issue was the fight over who controls the structure of the part in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
Loyalists of the governor accuse the Chairman of attempting to undermine the governor, who is held as the leader of the party in the state.
However, the supremacy battle led to the death of two members of the party, a development that is seen as a foretaste of the implosion that is waiting to happen in the party.
