ELECTION OR CIVIL WAR !! House of reps member shot dead in Ibadan

Temitope Olatoye, lawmaker representing Lagelu/Akinyele federal constituency of Oyo state, has been shot dead.

A source told TheCable that Olatoye, better known as “Sugar” in the political circle, was shot by suspected thugs in Elesu village, Lalupon, Lagelu local government area of the state.

He was returning from Ibadan when the suspects, stopped and shot him in the eye.

The politician was immediately taken to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, where he underwent an operation.

Toyin Akinrinlola, spokesman of the hospital, told TheCable that Olatoye did not survive the operation.

Olatoye’s political career started when he was appointed a supervisory councillor in Odeda local government of Ogun state. He was later appointed a special adviser by Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun.

He was elected into the Oyo state house of assembly in 2011 under the platform of the Accord Party, and in 2015, he contested for the house of representative under the All Progressive Congress (APC) and won.

He then moved to the Action Democratic Party (ADP) where he contested and lost the Oyo central senate seat.

- THECABLE

Fresh set of ‘Yahoo boys’ arrested in Ibadan

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan zonal office, on Friday, March 8, 2019, arrested 10 suspected internet fraudsters at Olugun Oluhehu and Elebu areas of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The suspects between 21 and 35 years of age are Prince Tayo Rotimi, Omotomo Oluwarotimi, Abdulakeem Oluwatimilehi, and Kodri Yusuf.

Others include, Oludare Biodun, Lawal Femi, Adeyemi Damilare, Hassan Adewale, Adenuga Olalekan and Oduola Abayomi.

Their arrest followed series of intelligence alleging that they engage in fraudulent activities, especially obtaining money by false pretences from unsuspecting victims through online dating and other illegal means.

At the point of their arrest, EFCC operatives recovered SIM cards, four exotic cars, laptop computers, telephones, fetish objects (juju) and several documents containing false pretences from them.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

- DAILY POST

Two killed, one critically injured as political thugs attack collation centre in Ondo

Two hoodlums suspected to be of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have been shot dead in Oba – Akoko, in Akoko South West local government area of Ondo State.

It was gathered that the suspected APC thugs were shot dead by security operatives, after a failed attempt to disrupt the electoral process at the ward collation centre in Oba -Akoko.

According to eyewitnesses account, the thugs numbering about twenty, invaded the collation in an alleged attempt to disrupt the electoral process during which three of the hoodlums were shot, with two dead on the spot and one currently battling for his life in the hospital.

Narrating the incident, a resident of the town, who craved for anonymity, stated that the thugs who had mobilised following news of the impending loss of their party’s candidate, stormed the centre and attacked security operatives in the area, and destroyed their vehicles.

It also gathered that it took the spirited effort of security operatives to douse the tension as they responded to distress calls and chased the hoodlums who had snatched the result sheets.

During the melee, electoral officers, who tried to scamper for safety, were said to have been injured alongside those who were at the collation centre.

- DAILY POST

ELECTION WAR !! Nigeria decides: Party agent shot dead in Imo

Suspected political thugs on Saturday shot dead a party agent during the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

The incident took place in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo state.

It was gathered that the party agent who is yet to be identified was shot dead after he engaged in a fierce argument with some of the other party agents in one of the polling units.

The party agent, who had left the polling unit afterwards was ambushed by suspected political thugs who shot him severally until he died.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, who confirmed the killing to The Nation, said that the police had started investigating the death.

The police spokesperson said, “I can confirm that a party agent was shot dead at Nkwerre. We have swiftly responded and taken over the investigation process.

“Outside some pockets of violence, the security architecture of the state is wonderful. The security agencies are on top of the situation.

“We have made a couple of arrest including the arrest of fake policemen at Umuobom in the Ideato South LGA.”

- DAILY POST

NEXT LEVEL KILLINGS !! Election observer shot dead in Enugu

A policeman has shot dead an election observer in Umuida community, Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze north local government area of Enugu state.

The observer whose identity is yet to be ascertained was shot in the head by the police officer stationed close to the residence of Ayogu Eze, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Ebere Amarizu, spokesman of the Enugu police command, confirmed the incident to journalists.

He attributed it to “accidental discharge”.

The observer was first taken to St Mary’s Hospital in Enugu Ezike before he was transferred to another hospital in Enugu town.

The man was said to have had a confrontation with the policeman at a polling unit metres away from Eze’s residence.

A journalist based in Enugu told TheCable APC supporters and agents at the polling unit where the observer was killed, confronted journalists and observers.

There is palpable tension within the area following security reinforcement from the army and police.

Eze had asked his supporters to boycott the election after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declined his request for the election to be postponed.

He had asked for more time to campaign because his candidature was confirmed by the court two days ago.

- THECABLE

Nigeria’s election a sham, not credible – US lawmaker

American Congressman, Gerald Connolly, has bemoaned manipulation of elections in Nigeria, claiming they were a sham and not credible.

At an interactive session yesterday with constituents from Virginia who paid him a visit on Capitol Hill, the Democratic congressman and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee had been asked questions about Nigeria and Venezuela.

The United States lawmaker made the remarks about Nigeria’s elections when he was responding to a question from international human rights lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe who asked what the US was doing about ISIS relocation to Nigeria where they abducted Leah Sharibu and the recent presidential elections.

Congressman Connolly said that many observers agree that the Nigerian elections were not credible.

He said that the US must do more and wasn’t doing enough as a beacon of democracy and human rights.

“There were a lot of observers who would agree with you that the recent presidential/National Assembly elections were a sham and were not honest and did not produce legitimate results. Are there enough people who care about that to speak out? …We have to do a better job of paying much more attention to Africa… Africa is going to be the continent of the future.”

He lamented the activities of Boko Haram, Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups on the African continent and said the US was not paying adequate attention to Africa.

He also raised concerns on growing Chinese influence in the region.

Responding to another question, he said: “Elections are being stolen in Nigeria”.

-DAILY POST