Residents of Akure, the Ondo State capital, have resumed normal activities after panic triggered by gunshots during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Ondo Central Senatorial District on Monday.
The sporadic shooting, which occurred at Ward 5, Ebenezer African Church Primary School on Amudipe Street, caused widespread confusion as many residents initially believed armed robbers had invaded the city.
The scare forced traders to abruptly close their businesses while commuters and passersby fled the area in search of safety.
A trader at Okelisa Market said the confusion spread rapidly after people began shouting that robbers had attacked parts of Akure.
“Everyone started running immediately. Shops were locked because nobody could confirm what was happening,” the trader said.
However, calm gradually returned to the city later in the day as security operatives intensified surveillance around strategic locations, particularly the Ondo Central collation centre at St. Peter’s Unity Secondary School, Akure, where APC officials continued the collation process under heavy security presence.
The Ondo State Police Command later dismissed reports that the incident was an armed robbery attack, clarifying that the gunshots were linked to suspected political thugs.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, said preliminary investigations and intelligence reports indicated that the disturbance was politically related.
“The Ondo State Police Command wishes to debunk reports making the rounds regarding an alleged armed robbery incident in Akure. Preliminary findings and credible intelligence available to the Command indicate that the incident was not a robbery attack as speculated, but rather activities involving suspected thugs, which resulted in sporadic gunshots within the area,” he said.
Abayomi assured residents that the situation had been brought under control and urged the public to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified reports capable of creating unnecessary tension.
He also called on residents with useful information about the incident to assist security agencies through official emergency channels and nearby police stations.