GUNMEN AFTER FAYOSE

Four armed men suspected to be assassins at the weekend stormed the Olohunda Estate, Ketu, Lagos, residence of the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, but their mission was futile, as the politician was said to be away at the time.

The men, who came to the area on Saturday, between 8am and 9.30 am, in a Honda car, were said to have lied to one of the ex-governors aide, Gabriel Irokanulo, that they had a 'political message' for him. When Irokanulo gave them attention, based on their claim, one of them surprisingly raised his shirt, to reveal a pistol and order him to take him to where the ex-governor was.

He was actually taken to the house, where they carried out a search. Convinced that the politician was not in the house, they drove off, promising to come back. They made good their promise as they returned at about 3 pm, this time in an Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). They were said to have told the security men at the gate that they were coming from Osun State and that Fayose was expecting them.

However, they could not gain entry into Fayose's house. But they left with a promise to accomplish their mission one day. Fayose, who spoke to newsmen in Lagos yesterday said he was billed to be in Lagos that Saturday but was prevented by a chaotic traffic on the road.

He, however, said he was not moved by the threats by his opponents.

He said: 'I am not moved by that. For me, from the beginning, I have counted the cost and I have always said it. They are only cowards and they are wasting their time. I am not a pretender, I am not a character that can chicken out over such cheap threats. We are battle-ready for them and we are fully prepared and fully on guard.'

He said his opponents had tried other options but failed. 'They know the time is short for them, that is why they have resorted to this recklessness. The moment I tell people I want to do something, I am already in that thing. It is a cheap harassment. They say they want to come back, let them come, we are waiting for them.'

Meanwhile, security had been beefed up in and around his residence.

The commissioner of Police in-charge of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Adeniji Adele, Jubril Adeniji and his men had already visited his house to see things for themselves. When contacted, Lagos State Police Command's spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, confirmed that the matter had been reported to the police. According to him, investigations had commenced. He said the police were not suspecting anybody for now.

'Even when we have one, we will not broadcast it. It is an exclusive preserve of the police to head the investigation.'

On whether the command would extend its investigations to Ado Ekiti, Mba said: 'The police in Lagos will not like to pre-empt investigation. You can be assured that the police in Lagos will be professional, discreet, and committed.'