Police on red alert in Ekiti •Over planned reprisals •Vehicles, pedestrians to be thoroughly searched

FOLLOWING the violent protests that followed the assassination of a former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ekiti State, Mr Omolafe Aderiye, the police have said there were plans of reprisals by some people from within and outside Ekiti State.

The police made this revelation amid renewed fears in the state capital, following allegations and rumours that members of the rival Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) were planning to carry out reprisals on NURTW members in the town, in the wake of the destruction visited on the home and property of a former chairman of RTEAN in the state, Chief Joseph Olambiwoninu Mentilo.

According to the Ekiti police command, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, “the state police command is in receipt of an intelligent report that some hooligans within the state and their accomplices outside the state are planning to wreak more havoc and disrupt further the existing fragile peace in the state.”

In the statement signed on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, by the Public Relations Officer, Mr Victor Babayemi, the police said: “consequently, the command has placed its men on red alert to prevent these bandits from carrying out their nefarious activities anywhere in the state,” saying “CP Lakanu has ordered the deployment of adequate manpower to embark on extensive vehicle and foot patrols on every nook and crannies of the state.”

Meanwhile, as the dusk to dawn curfew imposed on the state by Governor Kayode Fayemi enters the fourth day, the police announced that the “command has equally been empowered to enforce the dust to dawn curfew” with the CP announcing that he had also “directed that policemen should henceforth embark on thorough search of vehicles and pedestrians so as to forestall importation of dangerous weapons.”

In a related development, there was confusion in Ajilosun area of Ado-Ekiti on Sunday morning, when people suspected to be members of RTEAN stormed the area at about 9.00 a.m. ostensibly in protest of the arson attack on the property of the leader of their association.

However, about 10 vans carrying armed anti-riot policemen and soldiers soon moved into the area and brought the situation under control, thereby restoring normal flow of traffic in the area.

But the fear of the retaliation attacks which had spread across the state capital had caused panic among the people and forced the inhabitants of the area to stay indoors, while those who were on their way to their churches had to hurriedly return home.

Commercial vehicles motorcyclists also deserted the area till about 12.30 p.m. when it was evident that the security operatives had restored normalcy.

The presence of anti-riot policemen notwithstanding, churches recorded low turnouts in areas like Ijigbo, Old Garage, Fajuyi Park and Ojumose.