By Agboola Bayo
Ibadan
No fewer than two members of Accord Party were feared killed in Ibadan yesterday during a bloody clash between suspected political thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and members of Accord Party.
Blueprint gathered that during the clash 15 people sustained gunshot injuries among others.
It was learnt that trouble started when the suspected thugs swooped on a rally of the Accord House of Assembly and House of Representatives candidates, Hons Ademola Ige and Gbenga Adewusi at Odinjo-Ode-Ige, Iyana Modina area of Ibadan South-East local government with guns and other dangerous weapons and allegedly opened fire.
Eyewitness account said the situation resulted into confusion with those at the campaign ground running for safety during which two people were feared killed and 15 others sustaining gunshot injuries.
It was learnt that the arrival of men of the Oyo state Police Command prevented the bloody clash from spreading to other parts of the town
Speaking on the bloody clash, the Director General Ladoja Campaign Organisation, Hon Adeolu Adeleke, said Accord as a party, was shocked that the suspected APC thugs could unleash terror on peace-loving supporters and snuff life out of them without any provocation.
While emphasising that this “latest attack in the series of unprovoked onslaughts on our party leaders and supporters must not be swept under the carpet”.
Adeleke said the party will do everything possible to ensure that those behind the attack were brought to book.
“We are waiting for justice, which must not be slow in coming. It is not clear that Oyo state has become a state, where life is short and brutish and where people have to lock their doors and the doors of their chests before sleeping,” he said.
Adeleke added that “APC had threatened our candidates and supporters with a view to knocking fears in them not to come out openly and campaign. We believe Accord and other opposition parties must not be wickedly shut out of the democratic space by the ruling Ajimobi’s government and his party”.
Contacted,Oyo state Police command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Adekunle Ajisebutu said his office was yet to be briefed about the clash as at the time of sending this report.