BY OLAOLUWA OYELEYE |
Armed hoodlums on Thursday disrupted a town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Oregun area of Lagos State, attacking supporters and forcing participants to flee for safety.
The attackers, armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones, stormed the venue at about 11am, disrupting proceedings and throwing the area into confusion.
Before the attack, the atmosphere at the venue had been peaceful, with supporters of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, singing and dancing while awaiting the commencement of the town hall meeting.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We heard noise, and before we knew what was happening, some people were trying to force their way into the hall. People tried to resist them, and that was when everything broke out.
“When we got outside, we discovered that some vehicles had been damaged by the thugs. Some of them were carrying sticks, bottles and knives, and one of them had a gun and was shooting.
“When the police arrived, they deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd. Some officers also moved towards the direction of Alausa and Oregun and fired tear gas, which affected the NDC supporters as well. We had to run, and that was how everything eventually calmed down.
“He added that the police remained at the venue to provide security, while the chairman of the presidential campaign committee also arrived and spoke with police officers following the incident.”
The incident occurred as the party’s supporters gathered for the meeting ahead of the 2027 general election, but the arrival of the hoodlums turned the gathering into a scene of panic as participants struggled to escape the violence.
Hoodlums Armed with Cutlasses, Cudgels and Stones Storm Oregun Meeting Venue
The situation changed when the hoodlums approached the venue from Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, and attempted to gain entry into the main hall where the town hall meeting was scheduled to hold.
The attackers were initially resisted by NDC supporters, who attempted to prevent them from gaining access to the hall. However, the situation soon degenerated into a confrontation as the hoodlums continued their attempt to invade the venue.
A correspondent who was outside the venue observed the hoodlums approaching from Kudirat Abiola Way and overheard some of them speaking in Yoruba, suggesting that the NDC supporters were few in number and could easily be overpowered.
The attackers were reportedly armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones as they advanced towards the gathering. Their invasion disrupted the meeting and forced participants and other people around the venue to run for safety.
Police Deploy Officers to Venue Following Attack to Strengthen Security
Some of the attackers were also reportedly heard asking their superiors for permission to invade the venue with firearms, raising concerns about the possibility of further violence during the incident.
The ensuing pandemonium affected movement along Kudirat Abiola Way, as motorists who were plying the road made U-turns or took alternative routes to avoid the unfolding violence.
Pedestrians in the area also hurriedly fled as the confrontation created panic around the venue. The disruption left participants scrambling for safety as the attackers attempted to force their way into the meeting area.
Following the incident, police operatives were deployed to the venue to strengthen security and prevent further violence. Officers were subsequently seen on the ground to ensure the safety of participants and maintain order in the area.
Obi Defeated Tinubu in Lagos in 2023 Presidential Election, Now Leads NDC Ahead of 2027 Poll
The attack comes amid political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with Peter Obi now emerging as the presidential candidate of the NDC after previously contesting the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the Labour Party (LP).
During the 2023 presidential election, Obi polled 582,454 votes in Lagos State, defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, who secured 572,606 votes in the state.
The result was significant because Lagos had traditionally been regarded as a stronghold of the APC, with Tinubu having a longstanding political base in the state before his emergence as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election.
Obi is now set to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the NDC, with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate. The two politicians are seeking to build political support ahead of the next general election.
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