Supposed DSS Abducted Ekiti Lawmakers Come out of Hiding (Details)

Members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday resolved to shun any invitation from the Department of State Services (DSS), following the 19 days detention of their colleague, Afolabi Akanni.

At a pressing briefing held by Kola Oluwawole, the Speaker of the House and Gboyega Aribisogan, Information Committee Chairman, the three members of the house who were allegedly kidnapped by the DSS suddenly appeared from hiding.

The Speaker had on March 5, said the three lawmakers could not be found after the DSS raided the state House of Assembly.

He had said: “More than 10 DSS men, armed to the teeth, invaded the Assembly Complex, shooting sporadically into the air, thereby causing panic among members and staff of the House of Assembly, who had to scamper to safety. At the end of the commotion, we discovered that four of our members could not be found.”

“It was only this morning that we were able to establish that Hon Afolabi Akanni, representing Efon Constituency, was abducted and taken to Abuja. The whereabouts of three other members remain unknown as we speak, and reasons for the invasion and abduction of our members are not known.”

While speaking on Wednesday, the speaker revealed that the lawmakers – Musa Arogundade, representing Ado 1, Sina Animasaun, representing Ekiti West 2 and Badejo Anifowose, representing Moba 2 – had gone into hiding to avoid arrest by the DSS.

“The three members and some governor’s aides went into hiding when it became obvious that the DSS was desperately after them.”

Oluwawole noted that the DSS still has plans to illegally arrest and hold more of them on “spurious allegations”.

“We are lawmakers and not law breakers. If the DSS has started on a good note, we would have cooperated. We have collectively resolved that based on that suspicion, we may not be able to honour any invitation by DSS because of our safety.”