The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of the Governorship Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, and others during the #Endbad Governance Protests in Akure on Saturday.
Ajayi and other protesters had converged at the popular NEPA roundabout in the state capital for the last day of the protest before they were arrested by security operatives.
However after about twenty hours, a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya said the arrest of protesters was to prevent breakdown of law and order by suspected cultists who have infiltrated the genuine ones.
Odunlami said those arrested were wearing the insignia of Aye confraternity which may attract conflict with rival cult groups.
The PPRO said the Police Command had initially granted permission for the protest to be held at a designated center, but the protesters violated the permit and staged a protest along the major road, which may disrupt social and commercial activities of the people.
she said further investigation suggested that certain members of the protesting group were suspected of cultism and cyber crime activities.
The police spokesperson concluded that the high-profile nature of some of the arrested suspects posed a significant security threat to the state and Nigeria at large.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
