Oyo: Attackers invade ex-deputy gov residence, destroy property

Oyo map

Valuables, including vehicles and other property worth millions of naira, were destroyed on Saturday when suspected political thugs launched coordinated attacks on the private residence of former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi, at Asi in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Ibadan. Gbolarumi is a chieftain of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party scheduled to hold its nationwide state congress on Saturday.

Investigation revealed that no fewer than ten people sustained injuries of varying degrees in separate incidents across the state.

However, when contacted, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the attack had nothing to do with the party’s state congress.

He said, “A yet-to-be-identified hoodlums launched attacks on the residence of the former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi. The coordinated attacks have nothing to do with the state congress.”

The police spokesperson said the incident was under investigation and that appropriate action would be taken against the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, the chairman of one of the party factions in the state, Abdulrahman Akinoso, said similar attacks were recorded in other parts of Oyo State.

He said incidents were reported in Ibadan North, Ogbomoso South, Akinyele, and Igboora in Ibarapa Central Local Government Area.

“At least ten people sustained injuries during the violence, while several vehicles were damaged at various locations across the state,” he said.

Akinoso disclosed that three vehicles were vandalised at Gbolarumi’s residence on Are Avenue in the Bodija area of Ibadan, where members of the faction had gathered for the congress exercise. Punch