Three shot dead as council elections turn sour in Kwara, Senator’s house razed

The Kwara Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps has confirmed that three people were shot dead in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area on Friday.

The deaths are suspected to be related to the conduct of the council elections in the state on Saturday.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Kunle Bilesanmi, said on Saturday that some persons also burnt down a portion of the residence of Mohammed Sha’aba (APC-Kwara).

Mr. Bilesanmi, however, said the command could not ascertain those who shot dead.

It was gathered that crisis erupted when some youth barred Mr. Sha’aba, a former governor of the state, who is representing Kwara North in the Senate, from coming into the town.

A source said the youth’s action was as a result of the alleged failure of the senator to assist the community in repairing a collapsed culvert on the road leading to the town.

The youth were said to have barricaded the road when Mr. Sha’aba was coming home for the council poll.

They allegedly insisted that he would pass through the culvert that they mobilised resources to repair.

The source said when the senator found it difficult to enter the town, he called for security reinforcement.

The source said when the security men, mostly soldiers arrived, they allegedly shot sporadically and killed three people.

The source claimed the action of the security personnel led the youth to burn the residence of the senator.

A man, who said that his younger brother was among the dead, threatened that no election would hold in the town.

Efforts to reach the senator were unsuccessful as calls and messages put through to his phone went unreplied.‎

(NAN)