Angry women in Emure Ekiti have protested against the
arrest of over 30 of their children by the Police in
connection with the alleged attempt to burn the palace of
Elemure of Emure Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo, a retired
Assistant Inspector General of Poilce and ex-Commissioner
of Police in Lagos and Abuja.
It was gathered that the women, some of whom appeared
half-naked on Wednesday, held leaves and sang hate songs
against the monarch, demanding the release of their
children.
Trouble started last Monday, when a group of angry youths
of the community took to the streets to protest against
power cut by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.
They also complained against disruption of banking service
from the only bank in the community for over seven
months.
A resident, Olaoye Olayinka, said efforts by Oba Adebayo to
stop the protest was met with stiff resistance by the angry
youths who blocked the two entry points to the town.
“For the past seven months, we hardly have light 5 times in
a month, and when they bring it, it was only in the mid-night
when we would be asleep.
“Why this bad treatment from the electricity firm is so
painful is because, of all Ekiti communities, Emure pays the
highest bill, you can go find out about this. But still we are
not enjoying the benefit, instead we are getting crazy bills
for very bad service.
“The electricity firm slams us with N8,000, N6,000, N7,000
bills for each household, and for the artisans who are just
welders, each of them get N15,000 a month. It’s ridiculous.
And we have warned the boys coming to cut the power
supply anytime they feel like,” Olayinka said.
The Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, had told
journalists that the youths were arrested for attempting to
burn the king’s palace and for attacking the police station in
the town.
“The Emure people protested against BEDC for
disconnecting their light. What we disagreed with was the
mode of protest. They became very violent; attacked the
palace and the Police Station. We moved in and succeeded
in quelling the violence. The area is calm now.
“We are screening those arrested and we have released
some of them on bail. We are also looking at the case of
arson which is not bailable because the palace was nearly
set on fire.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Alberto Adeyemi, told
our correspondent on Sunday that those arrested had been
released except five of them still under investigation.
“The remaining five are at the State Criminal Investigation
Department assisting police in the investigation. They
would be charged to court if found culpable depending on
their level of involvement.” CLICK HERE TO READ FULL AND TOUCHING NIGERIAN CELEBRITIES BIOGRAPHY AND SCANDALS
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