Police launch probe as gunmen kill Aiyedatiwa’s campaign coordinator

The Ondo State Police Command, on Sunday, said it had begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of one Mr Alaba Abe, who is one of the ward campaign coordinators of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The late Abe was among Aiyedatiwa’s campaign coordinators during last Saturday’s All Progressives Congress governorship primary in Ondo State, which Aiyedatiwa won.

Abe, popularly known by his nickname, Excel, was reportedly assassinated by some gunmen in Supare Akoko, Akoko South-West Area of the state on Saturday evening.

This incident happened barely a week after the APC held its governorship primary across the 18 local government areas of the state.

The deceased was also said to be the Returning Officer for the party’s primary at Ward 10 in the council area.

It was gathered that the deceased was assassinated on Saturday night around 9 pm in front of his house at Supare Akoko.

When contacted on Sunday,  the Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident, saying the command was aware of it and had begun an investigation.

The PPRO said, “The command is aware of the incident at Supare; investigation is ongoing to unravel all that happened.”

In a statement on Sunday, the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council condemned the incident and urged the security agencies in the state to investigate it and bring the perpetrators to book.

The Akoko South-West Local Government Director-General for the LACO-FSIC, Mr David Ajobiewe, described the incident as a rude shock.

“Excel had been a resourceful coordinator for the Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation in Ward 10 of Supare and was never known to be violent and never had any history of local or domestic disputes. We urge the police authorities to step up investigations into his gruesome murder and bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book,” Ajobiewe said.

Also, the Ondo APC  Publicity Secretary, Mr Alex Kalejaiye, described the incident as unfortunate and sad.

“It is very sad and unfortunate that one of our party men was killed but we only read about it on social media. The party can’t make any statement until it is properly briefed by the chairman of the local government of the deceased. We can’t be reacting to social media information,” Kalejaiye said.