In the early hours of Wednesday, suspected political thugs reportedly attacked members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Idanre, Ondo State, leaving at least six people injured.
The attack, which followed a successful PDP rally held in Idanre Local Government Area, involved hoodlums allegedly armed with firearms, cutlasses, and other weapons.
Sources indicated that the attackers invaded homes of several PDP supporters and opened fire in the area, causing widespread panic. “They began shooting sporadically after entering the area, injuring about six people, who had to be rushed to the hospital,” a source revealed.
One of those injured was Otunba Olowoniyi Akinleminu, a prominent PDP leader from the Idanre community, who was reportedly taken to the State Specialist Hospital in Akure for treatment following the violent incident.
Addressing the attack, Mr. Adeyemi Fasoranti, Director of Media and Publicity for the PDP, expressed deep concern over the assault, attributing it to those threatened by the success of the PDP rally.
“The thugs were apparently angered and unsettled by the turnout and success of our rally,” he stated, adding that the perpetrators were openly hostile towards the PDP and had made threats to disrupt its activities.
Fasoranti alleged that two known individuals, Oyewole Aderemi (known as Gulder) and another local thug called Osha, had been seen brandishing firearms and warning they would kill any opposition members before, during, and after the election.
According to Fasoranti, these individuals claimed association with the ruling party and asserted that no security agency could hold them accountable for any acts of violence they committed.
Echoing these concerns, Hon. Bosede Salami stated that PDP members’ lives were in danger due to the activities of political thugs and cultists reportedly invited by local political figures to counter PDP’s house-to-house campaign.
“We wish to remind the sponsors of these violent acts that elections should not be seen as a battleground,” Salami urged. “If you believe your party can win in Idanre, there is no justification for employing violence against voters.”
The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Funmi Odunlami, confirmed the incident, noting that Commissioner of Police Abayomi Oladipo had ordered the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) to launch a thorough investigation.
Odunlami recalled that the Police Commissioner had previously held a peace meeting to foster understanding between leaders of the two primary political parties in the area.
“The incident has escalated into violence and attempted murder,” Odunlami stated, “and is under investigation to ensure that those responsible face justice and that peace is restored in the area at this crucial time in the state’s history.
The CP has emphasized that the Command will show zero tolerance for any individuals or groups involved in actions that could threaten peace before, during, or after the election.”
Odunlami called on parents, guardians, and community leaders to caution their wards and followers against engaging in any disruptive activities during this period.
