ADO-EKITI — Chief Bafon of Ado-Ekiti has narrated the circumstances surrounding an alleged altercation involving him, Chief Egbedi of Odo-Ado, and a commercial tricycle operator at a filling station along the Odo-Ado–Ori-Ekiti axis of Ado-Ekiti.
Chief Bafon gave the account during a telephone conversation with the Chief Executive Officer of Mature Minds Digital Radio and TV, while explaining what transpired at the filling station on Friday, September 11, 2026.
According to Chief Bafon, the incident occurred at about 3:00 p.m. when he drove to the filling station in his car, accompanied by Chief Egbedi of Odo-Ado, to purchase fuel.
He said that upon arrival, they met a Keke operator already at the fuel pump. The operator was reportedly still inside his tricycle after the fuel attendant had attended to him, while Chief Bafon’s vehicle was positioned behind, waiting for the tricycle to leave so that he could have his turn.
Chief Bafon said he repeatedly sounded his car horn, expecting the Keke operator to move away from the pump. According to him, the operator did not leave, prompting Chief Egbedi to alight from the vehicle and approach him to discuss the situation.
He alleged that the conversation became heated, resulting in the Keke operator pushing Chief Egbedi of Odo-Ado, causing him to fall to the ground.
Chief Bafon further alleged that while Chief Egbedi was on the ground, the operator approached him and, in the course of holding or pulling him by the hand, cut the Chief’s hand beads.
The development, he said, prompted him to step out of his vehicle and challenge the operator over what he described as the alleged mistreatment of an elderly man.
According to Chief Bafon, the situation escalated further when the Keke operator allegedly slapped him.
Reacting to the alleged slap, Chief Bafon was quoted as asking: “You slap me?”
The incident reportedly attracted the attention of some area boys in the vicinity, some of whom recognised Chief Bafon. According to his account, one of them reacted by asking the Keke operator: “You slapped Chief Bafon of Ado-Ekiti?”
Chief Bafon said he immediately became concerned that the intervention of the youths could lead to further violence against the Keke operator.
Rather than allowing the situation to escalate, he said he intervened and guided the Keke operator away from the crowd.
According to him, the operator was subsequently handed over to the Agro-Marshall Officer of the Palace, who took him to a nearby Amotekun custody facility for safety.
Chief Bafon added that the Keke was also pushed to the Palace, while the wife of the Keke operator later came around to appeal.
Wife Appeals on Behalf of Keke Operator
Chief Bafon further disclosed that the following day, the wife of the Keke operator appealed to him through another Chief on behalf of her husband.
He said he responded to the appeal.
According to Chief Bafon, the DPO of Odo-Ado subsequently called for the release of the Keke from the Palace.
He said, however, that the Keke operator was advised to personally approach him and appeal over the incident.
Chief Bafon explained that he was later informed that the operator would visit his residence on Sunday.
He said he waited at home for several hours expecting the Keke operator to arrive, but the man reportedly failed to appear.
Matter Presented Before Chiefs
The matter was subsequently brought before a meeting of Chiefs on Monday, September 14, 2026, according to Chief Bafon.
He said he was asked to narrate what had happened, and he gave the meeting an account of the incident.
Following his narration, Chief Bafon said the Chiefs suggested that the matter should be referred to the police for appropriate investigation and further action.
The account was given by Chief Bafon during a telephone conversation with the CEO of Mature Minds Digital Radio and TV. The allegations concerning the Keke operator remain allegations based on Chief Bafon’s account, and the operator’s own account of the incident was not available at the time of this report.
