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By Emmanuel Adeleke
Osun State Police Command has apprehended five people over the attack on the convoy of the state’s first lady, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola.
The police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, in a statement issued on Saturday said the command received a call around 8:30pm on Friday that the convoy of the first lady had come under attack.
“Information was received that at Owode, Ede Market Express way, some hoodlums were attacking convoy of the First Lady. DPO ‘A’ Division Ede promptly mobilised and led the detectives to the scene, where they met CSP Dauda Ismail, the CSO to His Excellency (Adegboyega Oyetola), the executive governor of Osun State.
“He stated that one Omolola Opeyemi ‘M’ of Ijebu Ode, a driver of one truck without registration number blocked the movement of the First Lady, as a result of the traffic blockage.
“The driver was wounded on his forehead while some hoodlums took advantage of that and started stoning vehicles in the convoy that got one DSS personnel wounded. However, five suspects were arrested at the scene,” She said
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, has accused the first lady of attempting to cover up the conduct of her escort who “beat up a truck driver at Owode, leading to the angry reactions of the public against her entire convoy.”
A statement by the party’s spokesperson, Oladele Oluwabamiji, said that an eye witness account has it that the affected truck had developed fault at the middle of the road with the driver making efforts to get it to work.
“That was the point the First Lady’s convoy arrived the scene and instead of helping to clear the traffic hold up , the security operatives around the First Lady pounced on the truck driver, beating him to a state of stupor.
“Realising the outcome of their criminal misadventure, the operatives rushed the driver to the hospital. It was at this point that people around the market angrily reacted, pelting the convoy with stones and others,” he said.
The party called on the first lady to apologise to the truck driver for the inhumane treatment.
“Instead of blaming the PDP, we call on officials of the outgoing government to be mindful of their interface with the people of Osun State,” Oluwabamiji added.