MKO:45 Killed in Riot
Oyejola Isiba
Palaces burnt
Prisoners let loose
By Our Reporters
ABOUT 45 lives were feared lost in Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan yesterday as
violence erupted over Tuesday’s sudden death in detention of the acclaimed
winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential electionns, Bashorun MKO Abiola.
Fifteen of the deaths were recorded in each of Abeokuta, Lagos and the
remaining 10 in Ibadan.
No fewer than 58 of the inmates of the Ife Prisons were also set free by
rampaging students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife while the
Palace of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Oyepede Lipede, paramount ruler of
Chief Abiola’s home town of Abeokuta was razed by irate youths.
The palace of another prominent ruler in the town, the Oshile of Oke-Ona
Egba, Oba Dapo Tejuoso suffered a similar fate.
The protesters also torched a building at Idi-Aba, Abeokuta belonging to
Alhaji Biobaku, father of one of Chief Abiola’s wives, Titi, and a store at
Isale-Ake, Abeokuta belonging to a tyre dealer, Alhaji Fatai Gbemison.
Titi herself was harassed by sympathisers at the Ikeja residence of Chief
Abiola over her recent utterances on the annulled June 12 1993 election.
She had called the election dead and warned NADECO and the pro-democracy
groups for stalling Chief Abiola’s release.
A Third Republic Senator, Mr. Tony Adefuye was also manhandled by irate
sympathisers at Chief Abiola’s residence.
He was beaten, and derobed up to his underwear.
He was accused by the assailants of jettisoning the June 12 election.
In all the cities, youths took to the streets making bonfires and
vandalizing vehicles operating for business.
Consequently, most vehicles especially commercial ones were forced off the
roads, while commercial activities were paralysed in those cities as well as
in Ado-Ekiti and Akure.
Thousands of commuters were stranded at the various bus stops with many
walked to their destinations.
The Abeokuta mob had taken to the streets early Wednesday barricading the
roads with bonfires to prevent vehicular movement.
The mob, chanting war songs stormed Alake’s palace, looted it before setting
it on fire.
Oba Lipede is currently away in London on holidays.
The Oshile’s palace which was burned a community bank, was similarly burned
along with two cars in the compound.
Two vehicles in Alhaji ..................... burnt compound suffered the
same fate.
Alhaji Gbem...... lost his multi-million "Tyre House," warehouse and a
petrol. filling station to the rioting for allegedly collaborating with the
military.
Anti-riot policemen however swooped on the protesters opening fire on them.
Two protesters were shot at Sapon, one at Ake, two at Ita-Eko and five at
Sabo.
By noon, the demonstration had been put under control by policemen only to
resume at Ijaye following the alleged rejection of some injured casualties
by the communities of the General Hospital.
Protesters torched the hospital’s pharmacy department in annoyance.
The Alake’s palace was condoned off by policemen.
Business centres in Lagos were also deserted following protests by youths
who went about looting shops and vandalizing others.
Students of the Lagos State University (LASU) were locked in a confrontation
with the police after blocking the Lagos - Badagry Express road and some
adjourning ones.
At least one life was lost at Ojo in the commotion that followed
.........death, and three at Ajah on the Lagos Epe road.
In the Ibadan rioting, a building belonging to businessmen, Alhaji Azeez
Arisekola Alao was vandalised.
Seven corpses were sighted at Bodija area, and three others at the Customs
Building junction.
Hundreds of students of institutions of higher learning stormed the streets
at about 7pm chanting anti-government songs.
The streets were immediately deserted, while social and economic activities
were paralysed. The protest turned violent when the youths descended on
Alhaji Arisekola building at Bodija.
An eye witness said the youths had first been attacked by armed men as they
attempted to pull down the main gate leading to the Bodija residence of
Alhaji Ariekola.
Armed personal carriers were stationed at Adamasimgba, Sabo, Sango and the
University of Ibadan gates.
The Molete residence of Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu was kept under watch by
private guards.
Youths in Akure and Ado-Ekiti also made bon-fire on the streets.
The police did not harass the protesters.
In Ado-Ekiti, students of the Federal Polytechnic carried a huge portrait of
Chief Abiola and marched through the town chanting anti-government songs.
Meanwhile, the President of Chief Imams in the Southwest as well as Kogi and
Kwara states, Alhaji Yayi Akorede has warned that the death of Chief Abiola
would further compound the political problem in the country.
Alhaji Akorede told newsmen in Akure yesterday that the federal government
should give comprehensive explanation on the circumstance surrounding the
death of the politician.
OAU students during their protest torched the Ile-Ife prison and set the
inmates free.
Three lorry loads of anti-riot policemen drafted from Osogbo succeeded in
beating back the irate students who were heading towards the palace of the
Ooni of Ife.
At Ede, hundreds of students of the Federal Polytechnic took to the street
denouncing the death of Chief Abiola.
Osun State Police Commissioner, Mr. Sunday Aghedo who confirmed that 58
prisoners were set free from the Ilare prison, explained that the timely
intervention of the anti-riot policemen prevented the irate students from
releasing all the inmates of the prison.
In Osogbo, shops at the popular Adenle market were not opened for normal
business activities while parents and guardians prevented their children and
wards from going to school for fear of the unknown.
A middle age man identified as Festus Akinshete was feared dead following
gun shots he received from some men believed to be security agents.
It was gathered that the man had challenged the plain cloth security men who
were removing inscription pasted on the wall of the N.J. press centre when
the security agents numbering five pursued him to the toilet of his home
where he was shot.
The security agents were alleged to have taken the man in their vehicle with
registration number AA 285 RLG to en unknown destination.
Meanwhile, the Oyo state military administrator Col. Ahmed Usman yesterday
warned residents of the state not to take the law into their hands.
Col. Usman in a statement said "Anyone who does anything to the contrary
does so at his own risk as the law enforcement agents are at red alert to
contain any act capable of disturbing the peace of the state.
Said he "I am appealing to you all rather than taking to the streets, we
should use this unfortunate period of the sad event positively to look upon
God in prayers and in soberness now and at all times for God Almighty to
repose the great soul of the departed and to give better opportunities of
life after him."
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Vanguard Transmitted 09 July, 1998