EkitiWide Newspaper (2024)

28/01/2020

Ekiti Plans To Make State Entertainment, Tourism Hub

Ekiti State Government said it had put necessary machinery in place to make the state the nation’s entertainment and tourism hub.
It also urged investors across the world in entertainment and tourism industry to urgently take advantage of the state’s unique tourism potentials to invest and make huge money.
Speaking after a tour of the state’s tourism facilities with newsmen on Saturday,
The state’s Commissioner for Arts, Tourism and Culture, Prof. Rasaki Ojo Bakare, who disclosed this after a tour of the state’s tourism facilities with newsmen, said that Ekiti boasts of numerous natural endowments that are tourism wonders.
“The essence of our tour of tourism sites in the state is to showcase to the world our potentials for tourism business. You have seen the depth of what we have. What is left is for investors to come in and do business with the state.
“It is good to build filling stations and hotels, but tourism sites when invested in, can give you what petrol stations and running a hotel cannot give you.
“We are calling on domestic and foreign investors to come to Ekiti State and do tourism business with us. The message is simple, if your ambition is to make money, come to Ekiti State. We have a lot for you to key into and make money. “
According to Bakare, some of the state’s tourism sites, such as the Arinta Waterfall, the Ero Dam, Fajuyi Amusement Park, the Ikogosi Warm Spring and the Civic Centre edifice, which contains the cinemas, art theatre, gallery and other facilities cannot be found elsewhere in the country.
“I don’t know where something like our civic centre is in Nigeria except National Theatre in Lagos. In the next couple of months, Ekiti State will be the hub of entertainment.”
Bakare, who was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Artistic Director, Abuja Carnival, said that the state had already enacted friendly legislation and put relevant infrastructure in place to boost tourism and entertainment businesses.
“Another thing on the tourism corridor is the cenotaph of the late Joseph Ayodele Babalola, the first General Evangelist of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), for religious tourism,” the commissioner further said.

31/12/2019

Politicians, Security Agencies Frustrate Free Elections In Nigeria – INEC
Nigerian politicians, security agencies and others have been indicted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as being the hindrance to free and fair elections in the country.
The position was made by Rotimi Oyekanmi, on behalf of the chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, at a parley with journalists in Lagos.
The Guardian reports that Oyekanmi categorically mentioned politicians as one of the biggest problems faced by INEC in the course of elections. According to him, they do everything possible to sabotage the system and subvert the process.
He noted that the politicians have now adopted the strategy of disrupting elections in places where they know they cannot win.
He lamented that if INEC decides to withhold elections in such affected areas, the same politicians turn around to accuse the commission of incompetence.
Giving illustration, he said: “When politicians realised that we had changed both the colours and other features of polling papers in 2015, they then thought up a new strategy.
“They resorted to vote-buying, which was so prominent in Ekiti state. We were surprised; we didn’t know that would happen. We didn’t face that scenario in Anambra.”
He said some of the other challenges faced by the commission include voter apathy, the law that one can only vote where one registered.
The Situation Room, a civil society group, also, on Monday, December 30, released its review of the performance of INEC.
Clement Nwankwo, convener of the civil society group, said that the electoral body lacked the ability to stand up to the agencies of state that are used to manipulate elections.

28/12/2019

Ekiti Eyes $100m From Development Partners To Boost Infrastructure

Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has disclosed that arrangements are on top gear to attract $100 million from development partners to fund critical infrastructure.
Dr. Fayemi said some development partners had visited the state to see how best they could collaborate with his administration in the areas of investment and economic empowerment for the people.
He disclosed this while rendering account of his stewardship and receiving feedback with chairmen and secretaries of community development associations (CDAs) and town unions in his hometown, Isan Ekiti.
Represented by his deputy, Bisi Egbeyemi, the governor said his administration had injected some valuable inputs into the system to make Ekiti marketable to local and foreign investors.
Fayemi disclosed that from the beginning of next year, the state would witness massive construction of rural roads to boost agriculture and rural development, one of the five pillars of his administration.
He told the elated representatives of communities that 1,000km of rural roads would either be reconstructed or rehabilitated, while dredging of waterways for erosion control was ongoing.
The 2020 fiscal year, the governor added, would witness renovation of all public schools to engender more conducive teaching and learning environment for pupils and teachers, as grants were recently approved for the schools.
Restating the commitment of his administration towards providing enabling environment for socio-economic development, Fayemi appealed to community leaders to always release land to prospective investors for either industrial or agricultural purposes.

17/12/2019

Maiden Ikogosi Marathon: Fayemi Reaffirms Pledge To Sports Growth

Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has reaffirmed his pledge to develop the sports activities in the state to create wider horizon for the youths to achieve the goals in life outside education which his administration has taken with zeal.
Fayemi, who was the special guest of honour at the maiden edition of Ikogosi Marathon, congratulated all the participants for taking part in the race and presented the winners with their prizes.
The governor said his administration would not only invest in the education and human capital development of the youth, but would continue to partner with relevant private sector players in providing them platforms to showcase their God-given talents.
Cross River State-born Sadjo Ismael and Plateau State’s Rose Akuso, emerged winners in the men and women categories at the Ikogosi 10km Marathon race held in Aramoko-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The race flagged off by the state Deputy Governor, Bisi Egbeyemi, saw Ismael win the men’s category in an impressive time of 30 mins, 40 seconds, while Plateau-born Adamu Shehu Mu’azu placed second in 31mins 22 seconds, and Oyebode Dada Samuel from Osun State finished third in 31mins 48 seconds.
In the women’s class, Akuso held sway winning in a time of 36 mins 51 seconds, while David Abiye from Ondo State came second in 36 min 59 seconds, and Plateau State’s Oman Sale, who finished third.
In the male indigene category, Shedowo Adewale finished first in 34 mins 51 secs, while Lawal Azeez came second in 35 mins 16 seconds and Arowolo Tunde came third with 36m, 17secs.
The female indigene cadre was won by Adewole Hannah Jumoke from Ikere Ekiti in 38 mins 49 seconds, followed by Sehinde Favour (43mins 32 seconds) and Folorunso Fayokemi (44m, 38s), who took the third position.
Winners in every category of the marathon race smiled home with N1 million each, while the first runners up got a prize of N500,000, and the second runners up N300,000.
Fourteen-year-old Dolapo Morakinyo from Oke Imesi-Ekiti, was the cynosure of all eyes as the youngest athlete in the race also got to the finish line.
No fewer than 10 ambulances manned by health professionals were deployed on the Aramoko-Erinjiyan-Ikogosi route, while the police, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the state’s peace corps provided security and crowd control along the route.

17/12/2019

We Didn’t Double Tax Traders In Fayose Market – Chairman EKIRS

The Chairman, Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS), Mr Olumuyiwa Ogunmilade, has denied reports that traders at the popular Fayose Market in Ado-Ekiti were asked to pay between N20,000 and N30,000 as tax.
It will be recalled that traders in the market had expressed displeasure over what they described as outrageous demand of tax from the government.
While describing the claims as untrue, he noted that little or no tax has been paid to coffers of the present All Progressives Congress-led government in the state by the over 1,000 traders in the market.
Ogunmilade who spoke in Ado-Ekiti, on Monday, said: “The practice in most markets, where the association pays a token annually as taxes on behalf of the market, is not only inaccurate for government to know who pays and who does not pay but also gives room for such associations to shortchange the government since there is no transparency on how much is collected from each shop or tenant.”
The revenue boss stressed that the Tax Law states that only individuals or corporate organizations must pay taxes and there is no law that empowers associations to pay taxes on behalf of its members.
According to him: ” We held initial talks with the executives of the market on the need to regularize tax payment with Fayose Market Association in May 2019 after which we explained the need to carry out an enumeration exercise to determine taxable assets and persons, which the association agreed to and was carried out after which various amounts were issued to the shops based on the estimated value of stock and transactions determined by on-the-spot evaluation.
“The right to object to the assessment within 30 days of receipt is clearly stated on the demand notice. (Meaning they can object or pay within 30 days of issuance).
“They got the Assessment form and didn’t raise any objection but refused to pay within 30 days as stipulated in the form.
“When EKIRS threatened to proceed against them, they resumed dialogue.
”At one of the meetings, EKIRS agreed on a minimum concession of N5,000 (five thousand naira) per annum per shop.
“The Association insisted this was still too much. They wanted to pay 2, 000 but the government is asking for N5, 000 naira only per annum which it believes is not too much for shop owners and tenants in Fayose Market.
“That amount per annum is just N416 per month. That is just N16 per day. Is that too much to pay as taxes in a market where business transactions of millions of naira are conducted daily?
”The refusal to pay N5, 000 per annum per shop is what led to the EKIRS Enforcement Action on Friday, December 13th at Fayose Market, Ado Ekiti.
“All other narratives are falsehood and propaganda to distract the people’s goodwill and attention from the Fayemi administration’s efforts to make Ekiti work for every citizen.
”The private and informal sector of the economy must be captured in the tax net because they benefit from facilities like schools, hospitals, roads, markets and all other social infrastructure projects built and maintained by tax payers’ money.
”Salary earners in Ekiti State pay more than 80% of the tax income of the State yet they are less than 1% of the population.
“Is that fair? Are they the only ones earning an income? Some traders and shop owners in Fayose market make in one week, what a civil servant earns in one month, yet they are resistant to pay their fair share of taxes to government.”

10/12/2019

Council Of Traditional Rulers Crisis: Judge Urges Ekiti Monarchs To Settle Out Of Court

An Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Monday advised parties to the suit over the tussle on the chairmanship position of the state council of traditional rulers to resolve all issues in the overall interest of peace in the state.
Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, had appointed the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, as the chairman of the council but about 16 monarchs disagreed and approached the court to seek redress, maintaining Oba Alabi is not qualified for the position.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, counsel to the aggrieved monarchs called ‘Alademerindologun’ (Pelupelu), Mr Owoseni Ajayi said discussions from stakeholders have been opened with his clients towards an amicable resolution to the impasse.
The monarchs who were in court include the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe; Alaaye of Efon, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare; Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; Ologotun of Ogotun, Oba Samuel Oyebade; Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju; Elemure of Emure, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo; Ajero of Ijero, Oba Joseph Adebayo; Olomuo of Omuo, Oba Noah Omonigbehin and the Olujido of Ido, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro.
Owoseni said the aggrieved monarchs were interested in sustaining the current peace in the state, however opposed to the proposal by the state government for the claimants to withdraw the suit.
“Alternative Peaceful Resolution can go on without the case being withdrawn. We are ready for peaceful resolution subject to the commitment of the state government on this matter.
“Their proposal for us to discontinue this case shows they are not interested in the peaceful resolution of this issue,” he said.
On his part, counsel to the government and Attorney General of the State, Mr Wale Fapohunda, had argued for the withdrawal of suit by the aggrieved monarchs to show their commitment towards ending the issue.
According to Fapohunda, “This move will send an unequivocal message to everyone that our fathers are indeed interested in peace, progress and security of this state.”
Counsel to Oba Alabi, Olubunmi Olugbade, revealed that his client was not opposed to the resolution of the impasse, noting that, “I am aware that the claimants are reaching out to our client towards resolving this issue.”
The presiding judge, Justice M. O. Abodunde while giving her ruling on Monday agreed that parties have the right to adopt the alternative dispute resolution on the suit in the interest of Ekiti State, advised them to resolve the issue and return to the court with their decisions.
She adjourned the case till January 21, 2020, for final update from the parties on the resolution of the issue.

10/12/2019

Workers’ Protest Grounds EKSU Over Mass Sack

Workers of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, grounded academic activities at the institution on Monday following the dismissal of about 1000 workers.
The institution had on December 5 sacked over 900 workers institution alleged to have been illegally recruited between 2016 and 2017, during the tenure of Governor Ayodele Fayose.
Discrepancies were said to have been found in the certificates of some of the affected workers, while others were also found not to possess the requisite certificates from the primary level.
The lecturers who protested within and outside the institution’s campus blocked the entrance gate as early as 7: 45am and chanting solidarity songs.
The protesting lecturers barricaded major roads and prevented vehicles from either leaving or entering the campus.
The protesting workers who were led by the leaders of various unions in the institution under the aegis of Joint Action Committee were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions and chanting solidarity songs.
The protesters included members of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
The workers, who disrupted academic activities, besieged the administrative building where members of staff were equally chased out workers from their duty posts.
Addressing journalists, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Ekiti State chapter, who dubbed as the SSANU chairman of the institution, Mr Kolawole Olatunde, said the struggles would be a fight to finish between the organised labour and the management.
He said the action of the management was uncivilized and inhuman.
Also speaking other labour leaders explained that the sack of over 900 staff was an act of wickedness, adding that the various bases for the retrenchment were flimsy.
They, however, threatened to continue with the protest on Tuesday until the management rescinds its decision on the sacked workers.
The labour leaders, equally, urged Governor Kayode Fayemi to call on the institution’s authority to reverse the decision to guarantee industrial harmony.
Meanwhile the leadership of three of the unions in the university, namely SSANU, NASU and NAAT under the auspices of Joint Action Committee (JAC) have been advised to maintain decorum while making their agitations.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Edward Olanipekun, gave the advice while reacting to the action of the unions to drive staff out of their offices after their joint congress meeting held earlier on Monday.
According to the Vice Chancellor, management would not watch and allow the unions to take laws into their hands by preventing those with legitimate businesses on the campus to transact their businesses.
According to him, “There are laid down procedures to be followed under the labour law in particular if staff unions want to withdraw their services which have not been followed in this case by JAC.
Professor Olanipekun also frowned at the situation where law-abiding staff were being chased out of their offices and described the attitude as unethical.
He, therefore, appealed to staff and students to go about their normal duties, warning that the leadership of JAC would be held responsible in the event of any breakdown of law and order in the university community.

08/12/2019

APC Sweeps Ekiti Council Polls As PDP Rejects Result

The Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) has declared the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winners of the Saturday’s Local Government Council election in the state.
The chairman of the Commission, Justice Jide Aladejana who made this known while announcing the results of the council polls on Sunday, said that four political parties fielded candidates for the council election including the APC and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Declaring the results on Sunday as presented by the Returning Officers, the SIEC boss said , the APC candidate in Ado Local Government , Mrs Motunde Fajuyi polled a total of 27,578 votes to defeat other 4 candidates in the election, while in Ido/Osi , Mr Adeola Adedimeji Lawrence of APC polled 15,879 to emerge victorious .
The winners also include Ekiti East Ogunjobi Esan polled 11, 946, Efon; Mr Adetunji Bode Stephen scored 9, 356 ,Ekiti Southwest, Hon Amire Kola Kolade had i 13,97, Ilejemeje: Akinola Oladunjoye scored 5, 477 votes while in Moba, Mr. Aborisade Michael got 13,028.
Ijero: Hon Ropo Ige (16,744 ) , Ikere: Mr. Oluwafemi Ayodele (13, 244), Gbonyin: Hon Ayodele Fadumiye (13,320), Emure : Hon Paul Awopetu (11, 392), Ise/Orun: Mr. Mr Alabi Olanrewaju (12, 400 ), Ekiti West : Kareem Agunbiade (21, 874) , Ikole : Mr. Sola Olominu polled (21,228), Oye: Mr. Foluso James Ojo (20,352) and in Irepodun/Ifelodun, Mr Shina Ogunleye won with 22,896.
The PDP candidate only had a good showing in Ekiti East local government, where the candidate got 4,033 votes to emerge the runner up.
Meanwhile, the State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Barr. Gboyega Oguntuase has rejected the results of the election, calling for outright cancellation.
Oguntuase who made this known while addressing journalist in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, said the election was a ‘mere jamboree’ as it fails to meet the minimum standard, describing it as the worst ever in the political history of the state.
He added the election was a ‘political coup d’etat’, stressing that the results were allegedly written by the state government for the State Independent Electoral Commission officials to present and read.
According to him, the exercise was another world war as it was marred with violence, killing and ballot snatching , adding that the results for Ilejemeje, Ise/Orun, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti East were written without any conduct of election.
“The Ekiti PDP outrightly reject the results of the Saturday’s council in totality. What we had was a mere tragedy and comedy. It was comedy in the sense that it was a drama of people who wanted to imitate or let the activities have semblance of democracy while truly the essence of democracy was bastardised.
“In all the 16 local government and 177 wards there was truly no election. For proper election to hold, there are certain materials that are important. But I want to tell you categorically that in Ilejemeje, Ido-Osi, Ise/Orun, Ikere, Ikole and other councils ballot papers and boxes were not supplied.
“We were surprised that in area where there was no election results were announced. What happened in Kogi state was exactly what Governor Kayode Fayemi and his men did in Ekiti”.
Oguntuase, however, declared seven day of mourning period for the killing of Dotun Kosedake and four others who casualties currently receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital.
He directed its members to shun any activities that will depict the party was in sober time in honour of the victims taking effect from Monday, December 9.
However, Aladejana, has denied the widespread allegation that there was sporadic shooting which led to the death of Dotun Kosedake at Okitiko unit , Araromi ward in Ikere during the election.
Aladejana said preliminary investigation had revealed that no one was shot at the polling unit and that the violence that erupted in the area, which he ascribed to cult clash was not within the precinct of the polling unit.
He said: “Nobody was killed at ward 7 unit 006 in Ikere on Saturday . Nobody was shot. Though, we heard that someone came violently and made away with unused ballot papers . Even in the whole unit, there were just 280 registered voters and this does not in any way vitiate the outcome”.
According to him, the commission provided a level playing ground for all the political parties and their candidates in the election.
He, however, commended the security architecture in the state for ensuring that no one was intimidated during the poll, describing the election as peaceful and credible.

05/12/2019

EKSU Sacks Over 900 Workers

No fewer than 900 members of staff of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, were dismissed by the institution’s management for various offences that allegedly contravene its condition of service.

The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Eddy Olanipekun, who made this known while addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti, said the decision was taken by the institution’s Governing Council in its meeting on December 5, 2019.

Olanipekun noted that the decision was in compliance with the reports of an external private audit firm contracted to undertake a holistic audit of the institutions’ staff and finances.

This, he said, was sequel to the recommendation of the Visitation Panel set up by Governor Kayode Fayemi, which identified among other things over staffing, redundancy and personnel misalignment in virtually all the sections of the university as the problem hindering the institution to pay its workers.

Olanipekun, said of the affected staff were 619 workers who were allegedly employed irregularly between 2016 and 2018 by the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Oye Bandele during his tenure and 228 staff who allegedly have some discrepancies in their educational qualification.

Others included ghost workers and some staff who were said to be over ages of 65 and 70 for non-academic and academic workers respectively.

Olanipekun revealed that the university will be able to save over N200 million monthly by the time the staff are expunged on the payroll.

According to him, “619 were illegally recruited between 2016 and 2018. Some were overaged having clocked 68 or 69 but still working when the statute prescribed 65 for nonacademic and 70 for academic staff.

“The workers were employed irregularly against university regulations within the period 2016-2018 thereby causing major personnel misalignment and skyrocketing of the university wage bill by about 100% within two years."

27/11/2019

Herdsmen Destroy Multi-Million Naira Farm Harvests In Orin-Ekiti

Farmers in Orin-Ekiti, Ido Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State have lost farm harvests and crops worth millions of naira to herdsmen who fed their cattle with the farm produce.
Recall the unfortunate incident in June this year where a hunter, Mr. Emmanuel Ilori, was killed in the same town by suspected Fulani herdsmen while hunting.
However despite the assurances of government and other stakeholders at that time that the incident would not repeat itself, barely five months later, farmers are lamenting and counting their losses after the herdsmen returned to the community with a more devastating havoc.
This time around the herders stormed the farmlands with their herds to destroy crops such as maize, cassava, beans, cucumber, cowpea, among others worth millions of naira.
Speaking, a farmer, Mr. Olawale Olajubaje said his farm, including a maize barn was completely destroyed by the herd. Olajubaje noted that the herdsmen wielded dangerous weapons when accosted in his farmland, “threatening to attack anyone who challenges them.”
According to him, “The Fulani herdsmen brought their cattle to our farms. The cassava we stored in the farm was destroyed at the middle of the night on Sunday. Even beans, cassava, water melon, cucumber that we are yet to harvest were destroyed for their cattle to eat.
“Luckily when I was in the farm on Monday, I saw about 15 of them wielding dangerous weapons and I greeted them but they never answered me. As for my farm, crops worth N1.5 million were destroyed and I don’t know how I will cope and survive now.
“The challenge we are facing in the community now is that we don’t know when they will be coming back to our farms. We are in serious fear, considering what happened in June this year when a hunter was killed by these people. We can only beg our government to help us in this community. Though, we are seeing movements of security agencies now but all we want is for us to go to our respective farms without any fear of attack.
Another farmer, Mr. Aina Adeniyi told Nigerian Tribune that his one hectare of maize farm was badly affected, adding that the herders are moving to other farms in the area.
He called on the state government and the security agents to save the community from the hands of herdsmen “terrorising our existence.”
“They are doing as if nobody can control them, which is very bad and unfortunate. In my maize farm alone, what they destroyed with their cattle is worth several thousands of naira. We can only call on our government to urgently address this issue once and for all before it will get out of hand.
“As at today, they are still around in the farms and they are moving to other areas. There is fear among people including me in going to the farms now because we never can tell when they will attack us,” he said.
On his part, Mr. Odeyemi Adebayo revealed that all his investments on his farmland over the years have been destroyed, calling on government to assist the affected farmers in getting part, if not all, of their investment back.
Adebayo said, “My cassava and maize farms were mostly affected. I met them (herdsmen) on Thursday in my farm destroying the crops for their herds to eat. I had to run after sighting them for fear of being attacked.
“We want government to assist us so that this people will not send us away from our community because now they have taken over our farms. I have lost everything on my farm and that is a lot of money.”

26/11/2019

FETHI, EKSUTH Take Free Cancer Screenings To Otun, Isan-Ekiti

Cancer registries of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI) and Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, sponsored by the Ekiti State Government, organised an outreach programme on breast and cervical cancer screening for residents of Otun and Isan-Ekiti in Moba and Oye local governments.
Director, Ekiti State Cancer Registry, Dr. Abidemi Omonisi, enlightened the residents on the measures an individual can take in fighting cancer.
He described cancer as an abnormal growth of cells that can affect any part of the body.
Dr. Mojisola Ayodele, a consultant from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, FETHI, thanked the state government and others for organising the awareness and screening programme.
She educated the women on the need for breast and cervical cancer screening, and urged those within the ages of 20 and 60 to visit standard health facilities for routine screening to stay healthy.
Other activities that took place during the programme included counselling, diagnosis, cervical and breast screening procedures.
Dr. Akanni thereafter demonstrated how women can carry out self-breast examinations within the comfort of their homes.
Cancer specialists and health care providers were on ground and some of the patients were referred for further treatment where necessary.

22/11/2019

Two Killed In Ekiti Bank Robbery

There was pandemonium in Oye-Ekiti as armed robbers stormed a branch of the United Bank of Africa (UBA) in the town and left two people dead.
The robbers, in the daylight operation, carted away money from the bank’s vault and stole from the customers.
At robbery scene the co**se of a girl, said to be five-year-old, on the floor.
She was shot in the head while returning from school.
A police officer attached to the bank was also shot dead.
The robbery started around 3 p.m.
Witnesses said the robbers besieged the bank and operated for over 30 minutes. They came into the town in green camouflage uniform and shot sporadically into the air, witnesses said.
Many residents of the community were seen shedding tears, particularly over the death of the little girl.
An official of the affected bank, in a telephone interview, narrated how the killings occurred.
“A policeman was killed with a small girl sitting beside the bank. There are some shops behind the bank, so the policeman was sitting in front of the shop with one small five-year-old girl.
“I think they targeted the policeman but the small girl, unfortunately, had shared part of the bullet. Two of them died,” the official said.
The spokesperson of the Ekiti State Police Command, Caleb Ikechukwu, said the armed robbers gained entrance to the bank using a phylum explosive.
“There was a robbery attack on the commercial institution in Oye-Ekiti. We are still investigating on that (number of casualties) as soon as I have confirmation I will issue a statement in regards to the incident.
“The armed robbers were dressed in a green camouflage uniform. They gained entrance into the bank with the use of phylum explosive,” the police spokesperson said.
The incident increases the number of fatal bank robberies in Ekiti.
In September, a policeman was killed when armed robbers attacked a bank in Ise-Ekiti.
In the Ise-Ekiti incident, the armed robbers also operated for about 25 minutes, thus putting to question the response speed of the police to armed crime in the state.

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