APC spokesman Lai Mohammed arrested by security agency

Lai Mohammed

APC spokesman Lai Mohammed arrested

National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was  arrested by security agents in Osogbo,last night a few hours to today’s governorship election in Osun State.

He is one of the

many leaders and supporters of the party seemingly targeted by soldiers and other security operatives.

About 30 student supporters of the  All Progressive Congress  (APC) in Osun State  had been picked up earlier in the day  in Ilesa in what the party said was part of the plan to intimidate it ahead of today’s governorship election.

Other  leaders of the party including the State Commissioner for Agriculture,Mr.Wale Adedoyin and the Chairman of Osogbo Local Government were also  abducted last night by suspected thugs of the PDP.

Alhaji Mohammed’s  personal assistant, Mr. Williams Adeleye, said in a statement at 11.57pm yesterday that he was on the phone with his principal when suddenly he heard voices saying : “you are under arrest, enter this vehicle.”

Mr. Adeleye said his subsequent attempts to reach his boss failed, as his numbers all rang out.

  The 30 students,according to the Situation Room of the APC attend the College of Education,Ilesa.

Their arrest at Imala area of Ilesa was said to be at the instigation of a former minister from the area who personally led the soldiers to effect the clampdown.

It was unclear at press time where the students were kept, or their  destination.

  Some of the arrested students  were named as Awowole Samuel, President, National Association of Nigerian Students, College of Ilesha Chapter, Dada Oluseyi, Ogunmode Suraju and  Odutola Olaniyi.

 A member of the State House of Assembly representing Ilesa West , Fafowora Fafiyebi,  was separately  arrested as was  one Mickey Jaga.

They were both arrested by soldiers .

 No reason  given for their arrests.

 The police spokesperson in Osun State, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, denied knowledge of the arrests.

 The APC  condemned  the arrests which it described as an unwarranted provocation of its members across the state.

 The party’s  Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy,Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, asked the security agencies to refrain from getting partisan in the governorship poll.

 The APC alleged that it was clear that the security men were  working for the PDP.

Agriculture Commissioner Adedoyin and the Osogbo council chairman were allegedly abducted  by PDP thugs in separate incidents.

Massive harassment of APC leaders and supporters  was also said to be going on last night in Ile Ife,Ilesa and Osogbo.

 PDP leaders at a late night meeting yesterday in Ile-Ife resolved to ensure that no APC leader in Ife is allowed out of his house during today’s election.

The office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osogbo was also burgled yesterday by unknown people.