Dr. Olubunmi Osadahun, the Ondo State Woman Affairs Commissioner, faced a violent assault during a palliative distribution event in Arigidi Akoko. The incident, which occurred over the weekend, was aimed to help mitigate the effects of the government’s fuel subsidy removal.
Sources suggest the attack was instigated by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the council. Olumide Awolumate, a ward Chairman of APC in Arigidi, Akoko North West, reportedly led the attack, accusing Dr. Osadahun of keeping the distribution process secretive. Awolumate further alleged that he and other council members were sidelined during the distribution, prompting the confrontation.
The internet was set abuzz recently when a shocking video went viral. In this unsettling footage, a person is clearly seen wielding a blue chair as an impromptu weapon, violently striking the Ondo State Woman Affairs Commissioner, Dr. Olubunmi Osadahun.
The gravity of the assault was immediately apparent as Dr. Osadahun, overwhelmed by the unexpected attack, sustained serious injuries, necessitating her swift transportation to a nearby medical facility for urgent care.
A witness at the scene, still visibly shaken by the violent outburst, provided a detailed account. “As the distribution of palliatives was underway, there was a sudden commotion.
One of the party members from Akoko North West, without any apparent provocation, lashed out and brutally hit the commissioner with the chair. The impact was so severe that it left a deep, worrying gash on her head,” the bystander elaborated.
While the immediate aftermath was chaotic, some of those present weren’t just going to stand by. A group of individuals, known to be loyal to Dr. Osadahun, sprang into action, ensuring that the assailant faced immediate repercussions for his audacious act.
Meanwhile, the alleged perpetrator, Olumide Awolumate, seeking to control the narrative, quickly released a counter-video to share his perspective on the incident. In his statement, he claimed, “Contrary to what’s being said, I was the one under attack. The commissioner, alongside her son and a police officer, barged into my home. Before I could even comprehend the police officer’s words or intentions, both the commissioner and her son launched a physical attack on me.”
Amidst the raging controversy, Dr. Jumoke Bakare, introduced to the public as Dr. Osadahun’s daughter, broke her silence in an interview with Vanguard.
She confirmed the distressing news that her mother had to be hospitalized due to the severity of her injuries from the assault. Not one to let the matter slide, Dr. Osadahun made sure to officially report the incident to the local police for further investigation.
Addressing the ongoing efforts of palliative distribution in the region, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, speaking through his Information and Orientation Commissioner, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, announced a significant initiative: the planned distribution of 1,200 bags of rice, aiming to benefit an estimated 6,000 households in the Akoko South East LGA. This gesture underscores the government’s commitment to supporting its citizens during these challenging times.
SOURCE: Vanguard