Thugs on Monday allegedly assaulted the Chairman of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Mr Tope Omolayo, following an undisclosed dispute. Omolayo, elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had earlier been suspended by councillors over allegations of gross misconduct, with tensions reportedly lingering between him and members of the council. Trouble began when the embattled chairman returned to the council secretariat after about six months of suspension to resume duties.
Eyewitnesses said suspected thugs stormed the premises to prevent him from accessing his office, triggering an argument that escalated into violence. “They beat him mercilessly, tore his clothes and left him almost naked. The entire secretariat was thrown into chaos as people ran for safety while the attackers fired shots into the air,” a witness said.
Reacting, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed that security personnel were swiftly deployed to restore order. Jimoh said investigations had commenced to determine the cause of the incident and bring those responsible to justice. Efforts to reach Omolayo for comments were unsuccessful, as his phone line was switched off.