No fewer than 19 people have been arrested in Ekiti State by Police Command following the murder of an ex-chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers Omolafe Aderiye.
The police revealed that among the 19 people who were nabbed in an operation over the weekend was one female.
However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi, while confirming the arrest to members of the press in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, September 29, 2014 failed to disclose the identity of the suspects stating that they were considered innocent for the mean time until adequate investigations give them reasons to be considered guilty.
As reported by Punch, Babayemi said, “The 19 are being questioned in respect of the killing. This is to determine their level of culpability; it is not that they have been indicted. They are helping us in the investigation”.
Until his death, the ex-chairman was an ardent follower of the Governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose. He was murdered in Ijigbo area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Thursday, September 25, 2014.
The violence that followed his death across the state on Friday, September 26, 2014 resulted in the setting ablaze of the house and cars of a former state chairman of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria(RTEAN), Rotimi Olabiwoninu.
On Sunday, September 27, 2014, the members of the RTEAN in Ekiti state threatened to launch a retaliation attack.
Nevertheless, on Monday, September 28, 2014, a meeting was held between police officials and prominent traditional rulers in the state in a bid to restore peace.
In addition, the police officials meetings with leaders of the RTEAN, NURTW, market men and women, religious leaders, okada riders and other interest groups in the state.
According to Babayemi, the meetings were held in order to proffer permanent solution to the persistent chaos often experienced in the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, while stating that Ekiti was greater than anybody urged the council of traditional rulers, led by their chairman, the Onitaji of Itaji, Obama Adamo Babalola, to appeal to their members to give room for a peaceful co-existence in the state.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 8, Christopher Dega, promised them the objectivity stance of the police officials towards all and sundry in the state adding that the recurring chaos in the state was tarnishing their image in the eyes of other people.
Among the traditional rulers who were present at the meeting were the Ajero of Ijero, Adebayo Adewole; Oose of Efan-Ekiti, James Popoola; Owaoye of Okemesi, M.G. Adedeji; Alara of Aramoko, Olu Adegoke Adeyemi; Olooye of Oye Kingdom, Oluwole Ademolaju; and Onisan of Isan, Sunday Ajiboye.
Meanwhile, according to a source present at the meeting, the council of traditional rulers has pledged their support towards working with the police officials in order to ensure that lasting peace returns to the state. They also urged the people to respect the directive.
Further speaking, the source added that the traditional rulers appealed to the angry people in court to allow justice prevail. They also asked that parties at the tribunal not to portray attitude that will make it look like they were trying to cause violence in the state which is directly against the goal of the people to enthrone peace in the already trouble state.
