Olamilekan Olayiwola, a member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), described how alleged political thugs with guns, cutlasses, axes, and machetes broke into the party’s town hall meeting in Oregun, Lagos, on Thursday.
Prior to the anticipated arrival of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Olayiwola, the party’s Ward F Chairman and event security coordinator, said the attackers arrived in commercial busses and threatened to disrupt the gathering.
He claimed that when partygoers arrived at the location as early as 8 a.m. to get ready for the gathering, they saw five commercial buses—identified as LT buses—parked outside the building.
“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,” he said.
“The incident happened as supporters were waiting for preparations at the hall to be completed ahead of Peter Obi’s arrival.”
This senseless violence must stop. The thugs responsible for this attack should be identified, captured, and arrested, then brought before the law to answer for their actions. They must also be questioned about who sent them, so that anyone who planned or sponsored the attack is held accountable.
