Amnesty International has condemned Wednesday’s violent attack by suspected political thugs on members and supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Oregun area of Ikeja, Lagos State.
The attack left over a dozen people with various degrees of injuries and disrupted preparations for a town hall meeting scheduled to be addressed by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.
In a statement on Thursday, Amnesty International called on the authorities to investigate the incident and ensure that those suspected of responsibility are held to account in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.
The global rights group said rampant violence particularly targeting opposition political parties and their activities undermines the right to freedom of association.
Amnesty International also said it received reports and verified digital evidence of similar disruptions in other parts of the country.
The incident, which happened at the Classique Event Centre along Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, left the venue scattered, with blood on the floors as thugs aimed machetes and knives at people gathered for the event.
The attack also disrupted the flow of traffic on Kudirat Abiola Way. Shops hurriedly closed and people ran to safety in all directions. Videos obtained by Amnesty International show thugs surrounding NDC supporters and hitting them with sticks and iron rods.
Amnesty described it as perhaps one of the most vicious and coordinated attacks targeting political gatherings of opposition political parties since campaigns started in August.
“Such brutal campaign of repression against the opposition and its supporters is making it extremely difficult for them to exercise their rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly,” the organisation said.
