The Ekiti State Command Rapid Response Squad (RRS), on Friday foiled attempts by suspested political thugs to burn down the State Assembly complex.
It was reported that the incident occurred in the early hours of today around 4am.
The suspected political thugs were said to have scaled the fence and made spirited efforts to raze a section of the complex.
The Assembly had been entangled in a deep-seated crisis of confidence, since the emergence of the ex-Minority Leader, Gboyega Aribisogan, as Speaker on Tuesday.
In the election conducted during plenary, Aribisogan got 15 votes to defeat Mrs Olubunmi Adelugba, who had 10.
Recall that CEOAFRICA had reported on Thursday, that the State Police Commissioner, Moronkeji Adesina, following intelligence reports deployed watertight security to the complex and shut down the chamber to ensure safety and security of lives and property.
The Friday attack was confirmed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Sunday Abutu.
He said; “I can confirm to you that these hoodlums carrying two kegs filled with petrol and also armed with cutlasses and other weapons came to burn down the assembly at the wee hours of today (Friday).’’
“The intention they had was that police had left the place, because our patrol vehicles had been withdrawn from the two gates. They thought the place was no longer under security cover. They came through a section of the complex, but they were resisted.’’
“The operatives of the RRS gave them a hot chase into the bush and recovered two kegs filled with petrol from them, among other dangerous exhibits.’’
“We want to warn our people not to turn the assembly into a theatre of war. It is an arm of government that must be respected. They called it hallowed chambers, so people should desist from creating unnecessary crisis.’’
“Let me also said that our men and officers are on ground to repel any dangerous moves being made by mischief makers to spark up trouble in any part of the sytate”.
Abutu added that the police haven’t arrested anyone in connection with the attempted arson attack but the command is on their trail.