Police arrest eight as miscreants attack Saraki at Eid prayer

Troubled Senate President Bukola Saraki was pelted with stones, sachets of water and other missiles at the Ilorin Yidi praying ground, Thursday, causing Police to intervene and arrest at least eight persons over the incident.

Ajayi Okasanmi, a spokesman for the Kwara State Police Command, made the announcement in Ilorin, describing those under arrest as “miscreants”, according to online portal, Sahara Reporters.  Okansanmi also said no government officials were among the suspects, despite reported tensions and criticism of the government by its angry workers who have allegedly not been paid for months.

Okesanmi told reporters that over 2,000 policemen had been deployed alongside other security agencies to ensure the success of the Eid- el–Kabir celebration.

“It was free, in the course of prayers there was the insurgence of criminals which we put into consideration while planning our security strategy,” he said.  “We know they normally come to beg for money from well to do members of the public.”

He said that during the event, some unruliness was observed, and the police had to prevent those responsible from gaining access to the VIPs.

“We then chased them away and we arrested about eight of them. They are in our custody and we have started investigation.”

Okasanmi further stated that the motive for the unruly behaviour was unknown, adding that the police regarded those who were arrested as miscreants.

He said the police also learnt that one or two persons were injured, but that there were no official reports if any injuries occurred during the process of arrest.  One or two vehicles may also have been damaged, he added, but the police have yet to see any.

He suggested that the prayers went as planned and that the dignitaries returned to their destinations peacefully.

According to SaharaReporters, the mob’s tempers flared when some hired female praise-singers took to the microphone in the midst of the Eid-el-Kabir prayers to chant the praise of Senator Saraki, who is being tried by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on a 13 count charge bordering on alleged false declaration of assets.

Sahara Reporters accounts claims that sources, including a member of the Senator’s delegation, said the attacks took Saraki’s security guards and aides by surprise.  The chief imam abruptly ended the prayers.