By Editor
One person has been reportedly killed and many others injured when the supporters of Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, who were on their way to the candidate’s rally at Tafawa Belowa Square, Lagos were attacked by members of an opposition party.
Police have confirmed that only four persons were injured and that the force has stepped up the investigation into the attack, but no arrest has been made.
According to a witness, Obieze Yadi, “We were attacked at Illasan area. We were on our way to TBS for a Labour Party rally for our leader, Mr Peter Obi, some of us were putting on Labour Party insignia, while some people like us hid ours in our bags, because we have been threatened by a particular party’s supporters. But the people who attacked us knew the tricks we played by hiding our uniforms in our bags, so they ordered us to surrender our bags for a search and we resisted them.
“They now started attacking us. They were armed with dangerous weapons. They beat some of us to stupor.”
Another witness, John Orji, alleged that the attackers were members of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), claiming that one person died during the attack.
“Labour Party’s campaign train was in Lagos for its mega rally which was held at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS). Scores of urchins suspected to be working for APC attacked members of the Obidient movement, who were on their way to the venue of the rally with guns and cutlasses. A victim whose identity was unknown died while being conveyed to the hospital,” he stated.
Jakande Ward Chairman of the Labour Party, who reported the attack on his party members at Ilasan Division, said many of their members sustained matchet injuries during the attack.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident, said four persons were injured in the attack.
Hundeyin said the injured persons have since been given medical attention and that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Ilasan Police Division has commenced preliminary investigations, while detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) have been directed to fully take over investigations.
“The injured and other witnesses are assisting the police with relevant information that would aid the apprehension and prosecution of the attackers.
“This attack is reprehensible! It is verifiable that the Command had stationed, since yesterday, patrol vehicles and officers at the Tafawa Balewa Square venue of today’s rally. We had already secured the venue to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
“The regrettable attack happened about 15 km away from the rally venue. As earlier stated, the SCID will take over investigations towards apprehending and prosecuting the attackers” he said.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC) has denied involvement in the attack on the LP motorcade during Saturday’s rally in Lagos.
It called on the security agencies to wade into the matter.
The spokesperson of APC, Seye Oladejo, said the allegation that the APC was responsible for the attack was not substantiated.
According to him, the APC’s position has always been for the security agencies to do their job, and bring those found culpable in any attack to book.
“We have always called on the security agencies to bring the culprits to book,” he said, those who alleged, “must be able to provide evidence, and point at suspects and I am sure the police know what to do.”
“We abhor violence as a party. Everybody has the constitutional right to support whichever party they choose, that catches their fancy and I don’t think that should make any kind of violence.”
Oladejo noted that the APC doesn’t see Labour Party as a rival that poses any threat to its dominance.
Asked if Labour Party is a threat to APC, he retorted: “Definitely far from it. Maybe they are competing with other parties, they are very far from us. They are not competing against the ruling party and with the performance of my governor and other people we put in place in the past four years, we have no reason to express concern at whatever level.
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