Tension escalated dramatically in Isan-Ekiti on the eve of the Ekiti State gubernatorial election as angry youths reportedly set a police station on fire following the alleged shooting of a young man by security operatives.
According to eyewitness accounts and viral videos circulating on social media, the incident occurred on Friday night, June 19, 2026, in Isan-Ekiti, the hometown of former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi. Residents claimed a policeman or security agent killed a young man in the community, sparking immediate outrage.
Videos from the scene showed flames engulfing parts of the police station building at night, with people moving around the premises amid the chaos. Some individuals were seen carrying sticks or objects as fire glowed from windows and doorways. Thick smoke and poor lighting made details difficult to discern, but the footage captured significant structural damage from the fire.
Local sources described the killing as the trigger for the violence, with youths protesting what they viewed as police brutality and alleged electoral intimidation. Some accounts linked the unrest to broader frustrations over the conduct of security forces ahead of the poll, including claims of bias or heavy-handed tactics.
As of early Saturday morning, there was no official confirmation from the Ekiti State Police Command on the casualty figures, the identity of the deceased, or the full circumstances of the shooting. No arrests have been publicly announced in connection with the arson.
The Ekiti governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026. In the days leading up to the poll, political actors, including PDP governorship candidate Wole Oluyede, raised concerns about the fairness of the process, security deployments, and alleged intimidation.
Police authorities had earlier assured residents and stakeholders of adequate security arrangements, deploying a multi-layered approach to maintain peace during the election.