Gunmen attack APC gov aspirant in Ekiti

A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Mr. Bayo Babalotin, yesterday alleged that he was attacked by a seven-man gang of gunmen on the outskirts of Erio-Ekiti in the Ekiti West Local Government Area of the state.

Babalotin, who claimed that the incident happened on Tuesday evening at a point very close to a checkpoint manned by policemen at about 6:30P.m., said that the policemen manning the checkpoint fled during the attack, “only to come back after the gunmen had left.”

The aspirant said he was travelling with his brother to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in his Nissan Pathfinder jeep when three members of the gang emerged from the bush and opened fire on the car.

He said that the gunmen wore police uniform and bullet proof vests, adding that as he attempted to put the vehicle in reverse, three more members of the gang emerged from the bush.

Babalotin said he suspected an assassination attempt on the grounds that a Toyota Tundra pick-up van had been trailing him from Iyin-Ekiti but turned back at the scene of the incident.

The APC chieftain, who described his escape as “a miracle”, said he and his brother hid in the forest for about 30 minutes before they came out, adding they were then assisted by a Good Samaritan from the scene to the Aramoko divisional police headquarters where he reported the incident.