Suspected armed thugs in Benin, Edo State capital on Tuesday attacked the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and some chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC),
While condemning the attack, Obi said it was an attempt to assassinate him and other ADC chieftains.
Obi said this is “totally unacceptable” as he survived “an assassination attempt” and called on security agencies to protect political figures in the country.
He the incident would be reported to the appropriate authorities.
The gunmen stormed the state Secretariat of the party immediately after Obi, Odigie-Oyegun and other dignitaries had left the place to Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s residence.
The attackers who wounded many supporters including women, reportedly came in many vehicles allegedly moved from the Secretariat to Chief Oyegun’s residence where the dignitaries were having meeting and shattered the classes of the vehicle parked outside the house.
National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, had in a in Abuja raised the alarm that some armed men trailed the ADC chieftains to the residence of Chief Oyegun.
He said “Peter Obi and the leadership of the ADC are under siege and attack in Benin, Edo State.
“At the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata into the African Democratic Congress, armed individuals followed us from the ADC Secretariat to the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
“They shot at the gate and destroyed several vehicles in what appears to be a survived assassination attempt on our lives. Democracy is in danger.”
The spokesperson of Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident, saying suspected hoodlums disrupted the premises and chased attendees away shortly after the event ended,
Ikoedem said “some plastic chairs and canopies were damaged during the incident. No casualties were reported,” adding that the personnel of the Command responded swiftly to the distress call, prompting the suspects to flee the scene.
She said “security has since been reinforced around the premises, and normalcy has been fully restored. The situation remains under control while investigations are ongoing to arrest the perpetrators of this crime.”
The state ADC Chairman, Kenneth Odion, in his reaction, accused the APC’s, saying it is the ruling party’s usual way of sending thugs to intimidate opposition because they don’t want challenge in the state, adding that APC had come to stay in the state
The latest attack is coming 20 days after the first one, in which suspected thugs attempted to set the secretariat ablaze.
Also, the attack is coming 24 hours after Governor Monday Okpebholo, said the ADC was sponsoring cultism during the commissioning and handing over 54 construction equipment to the 18 local government.
Okpebholo had last year told Obi that he must get security clearance before coming to the state.
