Residents of Ofosun Village, a community in Ondo State bordering Edo State, were thrown into panic on Saturday as unknown persons reportedly fired gunshots into the air. The incident, which began in the early morning, caused fear among villagers, many of whom stayed indoors to avoid potential harm.
A local source, identified as Dauda, spoke to FRONTPAGE by phone, saying, “We don’t know who they are, but they were firing gunshots into the air in some parts of the village since early morning. Ofosun is an Ondo village close to Benin in Edo State. No casualties have been reported, but people are staying indoors.”
Allegations of Electoral Disruptions in Idanre
The incident coincided with voting activities in the state, with concerns raised by the Deputy Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Festus Akingbaso. Akingbaso, after casting his vote in Imikan Ward 02, Unit 008, Idanre, alleged that thugs had infiltrated villages in the Idanre Local Government Area to disrupt the electoral process.
“Information reaching me is that majority of the villages are filled with thugs allegedly brought in by the APC,” Akingbaso said. He named villages such as Ofosun, Omifunfun, and Allah as being occupied by suspected thugs, adding that similar groups had broken into a party member’s house in Ofosun to prevent him from voting.
Akingbaso expressed disappointment with the security agencies, stating, “I have reported the matter to the DPO and DSS, but they have yet to take any significant action.”
APC Denies Allegations, Calls for Investigation
Reacting to the allegations, the spokesperson for the Ondo APC, Steve Otaloro, dismissed the claims as baseless and demanded a thorough investigation.
“Let me make it clear that our party is not involved in any criminal activities. The election has been peaceful so far, and we have instructed our members to conduct themselves responsibly,” Otaloro said. He suggested that the allegations might be a tactic by the PDP to stir controversy and discredit the APC.
Police Yet to Confirm Incident
The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Funmi Odunlami, stated that she had not received any report on the incident and was in transit at the time. Further details from the police are awaited.
As voting progresses in Ondo, the incident highlights the heightened tensions surrounding the election, with both major parties trading accusations and calling for investigations to ensure a peaceful and credible process.
