15th July, 2010
The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 17 persons from Ikere-Ekiti in Ikere Local Government Area over the protest against the alleged relocation of the State’s College of Education.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some persons protested in the town on Tuesday over the alleged relocation of the college to Efon-Ekiti.
Speaking on the arrest on Wednesday, Mr. Mohammed Jimoh, the Command’s spokesman, said the protesters attempted to burn 20 journalists and the palace of the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Adegboye Akayejo during the protest.
Jimoh said the 17 suspects would be screened and those found culpable prosecuted.
“Apart from holding the journalists hostage for over 30 minutes and attempting to burn them alive, the irate youths also made an attempt to attack the palace of the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adegboye, but he was rescued by security men,†he stated.
Jimoh assured the people that the police were on top of the situation and added that the police would remain in the town till the situation normalised.