Suspected thugs assault, strip Owo council chairman

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Chairman of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Tope Omolayo, was on Monday allegedly assaulted by suspected thugs at the council secretariat.

Omolayo, elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, had earlier been suspended by councillors over allegations of gross misconduct.

It was gathered that the suspension, which lasted about six months, followed unresolved disputes between the chairman and members of the legislative arm of the council.

Sources said the chairman attempted to resume duties on Monday when the attackers reportedly stormed the secretariat and confronted him.

An eyewitness disclosed that the situation quickly degenerated into violence, with the suspected thugs allegedly beating the chairman and tearing his clothes.

“They descended on him, beat him severely and stripped him almost naked. The scene caused panic as workers and visitors ran in different directions for safety,” the witness said.

Reacting to the development, the Ondo State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that operatives were immediately deployed to the area to restore calm.

“The attention of the Command was drawn to this report. Upon receipt, the Commissioner of Police promptly directed the deployment of personnel and operational assets to the scene. Normalcy has been restored, while investigations are ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure those responsible are brought to justice,” the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said.