Tension In Ekiti NYSC Camp Over Terrorist Attack

There was palpable tension yesterday at Ise/Orun/
Emure Ekiti as armed robbery operation in one of
the towns was mistaken for a terrorist attack on
the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
orientation camp.
The robbers, who stormed Orun Ekiti, with the intention
of robbing a wholesale beer distributor in the town had
their attempt foiled by some security men and youths.
The armed robbery attempt caused panic in the town as
people were said to run for cover as they erroneously
believed that they were terrorists.
News that terrorists had invaded the NYSC Orientation
Camp located in Ise-Orun/Emure communities later
spread into the towns.
The apprehension became tense when the incident was
placed on the Facebook, Twitter and other social media,
that terrorists had invaded Ekiti.
An eyewitness report had it that when the armed robbers
had their attempt foiled, they started shooting
sporadically into the air to scare people away and pave
way for their escape from the town.
They were said to have hijacked a Toyota vehicle from a
motorist and fled the scene.
But the police, who were said to have been alerted by
the sporadic shooting, were said to have trailed them
towards Emure/Akoko side, where the robbers
abandoned the car and fled into the bush.
The public relations officer of the state police command,
Mr Victor Olu Babayemi, confirmed that the vehicle was
recovered and that one of the robbers was shot during a
gun-duel with the police.
In a statement made available to newsmen, the state
commissioner of police, Mr Sotonye Wakama, dispelled
the rumour of terror attack.
The statement reads in part, “The attention of the
command has been drawn to the news making the
rounds that Ekiti State NYSC orientation camp was
attacked by an extremist group. We wish to state
categorical that the news is false.
 There was no attack or attempted attack by any group
on the orientation camp.
 “However, the news may have originated from the
attempted armed robbery attack at the premises of
known beer wholesaler in Orun-Ekiti, a town of about one
and a half kilometres from the camp.
 “The armed robbery was, nevertheless, foiled when a
distress call sent to the police was promptly responded
to. The armed robbers on sighting the police opened fire
and were engaged in a gun duel as a result of which one
of them was shot. Others later abandoned some of their
arms and fled into the bush.
 “Two locally made double-barrel guns and a car were
recovered from the scene. Detectives are on the trail of
the hoodlums with a view to get them arrested and bring
them to justice. This incident has nothing to do with the
NYSC orientation camp.