Violent Attack on Ondo State Commissioner Disrupts Scholarship Awards Ceremony
In a shocking incident, Commissioner Kehinde Akinrotoye, representing Ondo Central in the Ondo State Oil Development Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), was hospitalized after being brutally beaten by hoodlums. The assailants, reportedly armed and arriving in hired vehicles, disrupted the disbursement of bursary and scholarship awards at the OSOPADEC premises.
The violent episode unfolded as the thugs, armed and unruly, stormed the venue and unleashed chaos by preventing the scheduled ceremony from taking off. Sporadic gunshots were fired into the air, creating panic among staff members and students present for the event, who fled in search of safety.
An anonymous staff member revealed that the hoodlums specifically targeted Commissioner Akinrotoye, accusing him of misrepresenting the commission due to his non-oil producing area background. The attack escalated, resulting in Akinrotoye being beaten severely. The vehicle that brought him to the event was not spared, as it was destroyed and vandalized by the aggressors.
The intervention of the Ondo State Police Command became necessary to restore order and normalcy to the scene. Law enforcement officers arrived promptly to quell the violence and bring the situation under control.
This disturbing incident follows a similar attack in September on the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Bunmi Osadahun. She was targeted during the distribution of palliatives, indicating a worrisome trend of violence against public officials involved in the implementation of social programs in the state.
The motive behind these attacks remains unclear, but they raise concerns about the safety of public servants carrying out their duties. The state government and relevant authorities are expected to thoroughly investigate these incidents and take appropriate measures to ensure the security of officials involved in public service activities.
