The armed thugs that brutally attacked the Osun state commissioner for regional integration, Mr. Bola Ilori, at a public hearing organized by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure, the Ondo state capital, were part of a notorious political group known as “Abena Boys”.
It was authoritatively learned that Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde, the Secretary to the Ondo State Government sponsored the thugs that led the brutal attack on Thursday afternoon.
Mr. Ilori was attacked at a public hearing organized by the committee on “Restructuring and True Federalism” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the people of Ekiti, Osun and Ondo states to discuss on lingering issue bothering on true federalism in Nigeria.
The committee, which had in attendance APC bigwigs among which are the party’s National Vice Chairman [South West], Pius Akinyelure, the Ondo State chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin and his Ekiti State counterpart, Chief Jide Awe, was headed by Mrs. Rachael Akpabio.
The public hearing took place at the second bowl of the International event center, otherwise known as the ‘Dome’ along the Igbotoro road in Akure, the state capital.
Mr. Ilori had earlier spoken at the public hearing before moving outside to grant an interview with selected journalists.
SaharaReporters learnt that the thugs numbering five pounced on Mr. Ilori and tore his white short sleeve dress and undershirt after accusing him of working against the development of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state.
Armed security officers [mostly the NSCDC, Police, and DSS] who were heavily present looked away as the venue became charged while the free for all fight lasted between “Abena Boys” and another group from Sun state known as Oramiyan Boys.
The media aides to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu led by the duo of the commissioner for information, Yemi Olowolabi and the Chief Press Secretary, Segun Ajiboye, pleaded with television reporters who were fully present and cover the event to not use the tape after they intervened.
One of the reporters told SaharaReporters that the media aides at a time started threatening their cameramen who recorded the whole drama that played out during the attack.
Saharareporters learns that the leader of the hoodlums that carried out the attack is known as Femi but popularly called “KEF”.
The Secretary to the state government, Mr. Abegunde, in his reaction denied knowledge of those who sponsored the attackers on Mr. Ilori at the venue of the public hearing.
He made the denial while addressing journalists in his office in Akure shortly after the program.
“I didn’t sponsor anybody and I don’t know where everybody is just calling my name. if you notice I sat down inside the hall throughout the program, so how can I know what is happening outside the hall.
“The person that is accusing me was even the one that brought thugs to the state from Osun state while they were brandishing the Oranmiyan logo with sticks in the arms threatening our people in Akure” he said.