By Ibrahim Salaudeen, Lagos
There was pandemonium on Thursday as suspected political thugs invaded the venue of a townhall meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Oregun, Lagos, where the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, were scheduled to address supporters.
Armed with cudgels, cutlasses, axes, machetes, guns and other dangerous weapons, the suspected thugs stormed Classic Event Place, Oregun, attacking party members and disrupting the gathering.
According to supporters, about 50 suspected thugs arrived in four to five commercial LT buses parked outside the premises, with their occupants threatening to scatter everything.
Recounting how the attack unfolded, one of the party members, Olamilekan Olayiwola, Ward F Chairman and security coordinator at the event, said party members had arrived at the venue as early as 8a.m.
“The incident happened as supporters were waiting for preparations at the hall to be completed ahead of Peter Obi’s arrival.”
“The attack started around 8a.m. Before it happened, I saw five LT buses parked outside the premises, with their occupants threatening to scatter everything.”
“They had guns, cutlasses and axes. They attacked us, forcing some of our members to mobilise the women to defend themselves,” Olayiwola said.
The ensuing stampede sent participants scampering for safety.
Some of the persons in the hall scampered for safety as the thugs broke in, however, the crowd regained confidence when some young men started throwing chairs at the attackers.
Later, some of the NDC supporters clad in blue shirts and white fez caps chased the suspected thugs out of the hall and caught up with one at the car park.
“Deal with him,” a voice was heard saying in the background as young men surrounded the suspected thug, hitting him with sticks.
Four party members sustained injuries during the clash, while several others lost their mobile phones.
“Four party members sustained injuries during the clash, while several others lost their mobile phones. There was no police officer on the ground, except for two DSS operatives, who fired warning shots into the air to disperse the attackers,” Olayiwola said.
The angry mob later broke into Kudirat Abiola Way, a major road in the city, as policemen shot into the air to disperse the crowd.
Olayiwola called on political leaders and security agencies to put adequate security arrangements in place for campaign events and polling units across Lagos State.
“I am calling on political leaders and security agencies to put adequate security arrangements in place for campaign events and polling units across Lagos State. If nothing is done, the situation could turn bloody,” he said.
However, at the time of writing this report, armed policemen numbering over 20 were sighted at the scene, while members were still waiting for Obi and Kwankwaso’s arrival.
Neither Obi nor Kwankwaso had arrived at the scene as of the time the thugs invaded the venue.
Meanwhile, the police said they were not informed of the political rally.
