Ahead of the local government election in Ondo state, some armed thugs Tuesday attacked the secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) at Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The suspected thugs launched the attacks while a meeting of the party members was being held in the secretariat office in Agosile Odode of Idanre town.
The attack is coming with less than four days to the Local Council election in the state. The council election had been slated for Saturday, August 22, by Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC).
No fewer than seven political parties have already shown the interest to participate in the council’s election.
We learnt no fewer than 26 thugs stormed the venue of the meeting and descended on the members of the SDP with axes and other dangerous weapons.
At least, seven persons were wounded during the attacks which lasted for several hours at the party’s secretariat.
Mr Bankole Akinselure, who is the chairmanship candidate of the SDP and his vice, Mr Idowu Akinrotohun were also attacked by the thugs with matches during the fracas.
The duo and other members of the party sustained degrees of injuries during the brutal attack before they were rushed to a hospital for treatment.
However, it was gathered that the armed thugs were alleged to be working under the instructions of some chieftains of a prominent party in the town.
The attack led to some protest among the supporters of the SDP who trooped to the road kicked against the police lateness to the scene of the incident
A member of the SDP, who remain anonymous who was caught in the web of the attack said the thugs were hired to disrupt the meeting.
He said, “The attack was launched on us during a meeting at our office (SDP Secretariat) at the Agosile Odode in Idanre.
“These thugs came fully armed and attacked SDP members in the meeting with cutlasses and axes including stones.
“In fact, the thugs destroyed all the posters and billboards that were pasted at the secretariat because those who sponsored them are threatened with the popularity of our candidate for the Saturday LG election.
“We had to quickly call the police to intervene but surprisingly to us, they came late and started watching these thugs attacking and destroying our properties.”
The chairmanship candidate of the party, Mr Akinselure also confirmed the attacks and expressed disappointment at the police who came to the scene.
“It is true we were attacked and I put a call to the Divisional Police Officer at Olofin Police Station and Deputy Commissioner of Police but it is unfortunate that the policemen who came to the scene of the attack could not stop the boys (attackers).”
He revealed that the attack was targeted towards him due to his rising popularity adding that the incident has been reported to the monarch of the community.
When contacted, ASP Tee Leo-Ikoro, Spokesman for the Ondo State Police Command said he was yet to be properly brief when contacted for reactions.
