KEY POINTS
- Suspected thugs attacked NDC supporters at a Peter Obi town hall venue in Oregun, Lagos.
- Several vehicles were vandalised, and at least one supporter sustained a head injury.
- Police were deployed to restore order, but the attackers’ identities and motive remain unclear.
Suspected political thugs attacked supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Oregun area of Ikeja, Lagos State, on Thursday, disrupting preparations for a town hall meeting featuring the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The incident occurred around 11 a.m. at the Classique Event Centre along Kudirat Abiola Way, sending attendees fleeing and causing panic among motorists and pedestrians in the area.
According to eyewitness accounts, Obi and Kwankwaso had not arrived at the venue when the attackers struck.
Several vehicles belonging to party supporters were vandalised, while glass was scattered across the event centre. At least one supporter sustained a head injury.
Supporters resist attackers as police arrive
A supporter who sustained a head injury told Channels Television that the attackers were armed with cutlasses and had invaded the venue to disrupt the meeting.
He said some NDC members mobilised to resist the assailants, eventually forcing them to retreat.
The confrontation also affected traffic along Kudirat Abiola Way, as motorists made U-turns to avoid the area and pedestrians fled for safety.
Police officers and patrol vehicles were later deployed to restore order and prevent further violence. NDC supporters subsequently regrouped at the venue, singing, dancing and displaying the party’s flag.
The party’s Lagos State governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, also visited the event centre to assess the damage.
Circumstances surrounding attack remain unclear
At the time of Channels Television’s report, the identities of the attackers and the motive behind the incident had not been established. The Lagos State Police Command had also not issued an official statement.
The attack comes amid reports of violence at opposition political gatherings in other parts of the country, including Delta and Cross River states. Obi had earlier reported an attack on his convoy in Calabar.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections. The APC Presidential Campaign Council has since condemned the disruption of the Lagos meeting and called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute those responsible.
