Kunle ADELABU & Jare OLUKOTUN
Hoodlums, under the guise of protesting against the 4th term ambition of the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the representative of Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon Sanai Agunbiade, on Thursday (October 4), attacked his campaign office located on Obafemi Awolowo road, Oke Ota Ona, Ikorodu, and injured many of his supporters.
It was gathered that the protesters first gathered at Ebute/Dangote roundabout and later marched through major streets in Ikorodu.
Reliably source also informed THE IMPACT that a political office holder who is in support of one of the aspirants for the House of Assembly gave the protesters campaign t-shirts and caps at Oju-ogbe
They carried banners with the inscription, ‘Say No To 4th Term’ while they also destroyed banners and posters of the lawmaker on sight.
According to eye witnesses, when they reached Ota Ona, the protesters decided to proceed to Hon. Agunbiade’s office to protest but the decision was said to have been opposed by some of the protesters.
However, leaders of the protest, who were alleged to be well known in town, insisted on matching to the lawmakers’s office.
According to report, some of the protesters were on motorcycles while some were in vehicles and others marching on their feet.
Two motorbikes with registration numbers TTD 567 WI and AKD 539 QJ and some posters were recovered from some of the protesters.
THE IMPACT gathered that supporters of Hon Agunbiade later recovered from the attack and gave the attackers a hot chase.
It was also gathered that neighbours who witnessed the unprovoked attack reacted and joined Hon Agunbiade’ s supporters in chasing the attackers who took to their heels immediately they sensed reprisal attack from their victims.
It was also alleged that some of the attackers are close relatives and aides of two of the aspirants contesting against Hon. Agunbiade.
One of the leaders of the protest (name withheld) was said to have been apprehended by a one of the lawmaker’s supporters while running away and attempting to climb the fence of the Bible College’s fence.The attacker was also reported to have begged him to let him go.
He was, however, released after he had been eriously beaten by neighbours who had reacted to the attack on behalf of Hon. Agunbiade.
One of Hon. Agunbiade’s supporters, Ajibade Ogunsanwo who was within the premises when the incident happen, alleged that bottles thrown landed on his head.
Also, Leke Shokunbi, who runs a beer parlour within the office premises, stated that his television set, chairs, tables and other valuables were destroyed by the attackers.
“We were just seated as usual when suddenly they (attackers)forcefully entered the compound and started throwing stones and other objects.
“They broke my chairs, tables and television set. Several people were injured in the attack”, he alleged.
Some of the protesters, according to eye witnesses, were carrying guns and shooting sporadically into the air.
One Yusuf was severely injured on the head and other parts of his body by a suspected thug called Sule
SARS team arrived the scene around 6pm to restore normalcy in the area. The local vigilance team, Onyabo, led by My Lanre Olabinjo were also on ground.
The Commanding Officer, 174 Battalion, also arrived the scene of the incident around 7pm with his men.
The Area Commnadant also arrived at Hon Agunbiade ‘s office at 7.29pm .
He said that he heard about the attack and decided to visit.
Meanwhile, Hon. Agunbiade, while narrating his ordeal to the Area Commander, stated that he was in his office when hoodlums stormed his office and shot into the air while they also threw dangerous objects at his people who were going about their businesses peacefully within the premises of the office.
He also stated that some of his supporters who were attacked have been able to identify some of the hoodlums.
“I was in my office when I started hearing gun shots and when I came out to see what was going on, some of my guys prevented me from going further.
“I discovered that some people had forcefully gained entrance into my compound, shooting sporadically and attacking innocent people that were seated. Those attacked were able to identify some of these hoodlums”.
Speaking during the visit, the Area Commander stated that he is ready to deal decisively with any hoodlum found culpable.
He stated that APC should approach the primary election as a family and should avoid being violent.
The police chief also added that there is need for the Majority Leader of the state to have security details for his safety.
Some eye witnesses who spoke with THE IMPACT described the attack as worrisome and dangerous to the polity.
“This is a very worrisome development. Why attacking opponent when you could mobilize your own people to vote for you? The government really need to address this issue of political violence before it degenerated”, a woman who witnessed the attack stated.
She called on the government and various security apparatus to rein in the politicians and prevent them from turning electioneering period into war.
Some of the eye witnesses also called on the government to beef up security for the House of Assembly primary election slated for tomorrow(today).
“They should mobilize more security agents to monitor the election (House of Assembly primary election) tomorrow if they don’t want it to turn to bloodbath”, another eye witness warned.
