Journalists attacked by angry youth at Adeleke’s house

Angry youths at the residence of late senator Isiaka Adeleke in Ede, Osun state, on Sunday attacked Tope Alabi, a correspondent of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

Adeleke died in the early hours of Sunday at a private hospital in Osogbo after succumbing to a protracted ailment.

The late politician popularly called “Serubawon” was aged 62.

The NTA reporter, who was at the residence of the late politician with a photojournalist, was attacked by the youths for recording the faces of sympathisers.

The youths, who alleged that the late senator was poisoned, opposed video coverage of the event.

Alabi was assaulted on the head and was taken to Osogbo for treatment while the photojournalist escaped to a nearby bush.

Security had, however, been beefed up at the residence as family members and friends awaited the burial of the late politician.

An armoured personnel carrier (APC) was stationed very close to Adeleke’s house while a police vehicle was sighted patrolling the town.

A NAN correspondent at the residence reports that the corpse of the late senator was brought to his residence in Ede at about 1:10pm from Biket Hospital in Osogbo.

It was, however, later taken to Ladoke Akintola Teaching hospital in Osogbo for an autopsy as family members insisted on ascertaining the cause of death.

As at the time of filing this report, no family member was willing to speak with journalists.

Meanwhile, Kunle Oyatomi, the publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, has expressed shock over Adeleke’s death.

Oyatomi, in a telephone interview with NAN, said the late senator would be greatly missed.

He described Adeleke as one of the best governors the state ever had, adding that he was greatly loved by all.