Political violence continues unabated across the country as various parties including the APC held their primaries to select candidates to contest for political office in next year’s general elections.
The latest news of political violence comes from Lagos state at the just concluded primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) where one person was reported to have been killed and scores of others injured in the violence which followed after.
The pockets of deadly violence occurred in the Kosofe, Epe and Lagos Island areas of Lagos State on Thursday as hoodlums loyal to different aspirants of the APC shot at residents and party members at the venue of the primaries.
At the end of the shoot-out, at least seven people, including a former chairmanship aspirant, Ibrahim Mustapha, were injured in Kosofe, while one person identified as 30 yr old Idris Alooma, lay dead alongside 10 injured people at Epe.
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The Lagos state APC held its primaries for aspirants seeking to contest for the Federal House of Representatives on the platform of the party on Thursday.
Apparently, primaries were not conducted for the Senatorial tickets because the incumbents were supposedly to contest on the platform of the party unopposed
This was the basis for the trouble that started at Ward F, Ikosi-Isheri, Kosofe, when some supporters of the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Gbenga Ashafa, started singing that he was unopposed.
Supporters of Ashafa’s major contender, Bayo Oshinowo, aka Pepper, who were at the unit felt slighted by the chant and did not take the jabs well because their candidate had reportedly been disqualified from the primaries by the APC National Working Committee.
According to an eye witness at the scene of the carnage;
“The fight started around 11.30am. Supporters of Ashafa at the unit were only there to affirm his mandate. They were chanting, ‘Ashafa unopposed.’
Those supporting Pepper left the polling unit. By the time they returned, they were armed to the teeth and started shooting. The thugs were led by one Arikuyeri.
After they were done, they raided Mile 12, Ikosi Isheri, Agboyi Ketu, and other areas under the Kosofe Federal Constituency. They went on the rampage for about two hours, shooting and destroying property. The area is still tense. Some of those injured have been admitted in a hospital.”
Another eye witness claimed that the violence lasted for more than three hours and innocent residents were injured while fleeing the mini-war in the area.
“The hoodlums were brought in 17 buses. They chased away people who wanted to vote, including elderly women. They attacked those who resisted. Some people fell into ditches while running away,” he said further.
The former chairmanship aspirant, Mustapha was reportedly hacked on the head with machetes which necessitated in his being admitted to a hospital.
According to witnesses;
“He was attacked on Adebayo Mokuolu Street, Anthony Village, Kosofe. The thugs chased and cornered him. They cut him with machetes. It took the intervention of passersby, who carried him to a hospital.
He was initially rushed to two nearby hospitals, but he was rejected before he was taken to where he was admitted.”
In the ensuing confusion, a political thug identified as Nokia, allegedly left a bag containing machetes and guns while escaping on a motorcycle.
The person who died in the melee was killed in Epe by political thugs who wanted to disrupt the primaries which involved four aspirants: Wale Raji, Lanre Odubote, Segun Olulade and Remi Adebowale.
According to witnesses at the venue, the thugs invaded after the primaries had been concluded and delegates were waiting for the results to be announced.
Apparently the thugs got wind that the primaries was not going in favour of their candidate and decided to invade the venue on motorcycles.
The thugs allegedly led by one Sabano, started shooting indiscriminately leading to the death of Idris Alooma who was hit by one of the bullets.
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