Tension gripped Ado-Ekiti on Thursday following a violent clash between members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and commercial motorcycle operators (Okada riders) over the death of a motorcycle ticketing officer.
The altercation, which lasted nearly two hours, saw both groups wielding dangerous weapons, including cutlasses and knives, leaving several individuals injured.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the conflict began when the Okada riders accused OPC members of being responsible for the death of their ticketing officer, whose office is located near the Atikankan area, a known hotspot in Ado-Ekiti.
In response to the violence, men of the Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) were dispatched to the scene. Six suspects were apprehended, while others fled the area.
Confirming the incident, Ekiti State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abutu Sunday, stated:
“At about 11:20 a.m. on Thursday, the Command received a distress call reporting that some hoodlums were attacking and robbing innocent individuals in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti.
“Operatives of the RRS were deployed to the scene, leading to the arrest of six suspects. Investigations are ongoing, and efforts are in place to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.”
The police assured residents that measures are being taken to restore calm in the area.
