Attack at APC rally

Some suspected thugs believed to be
sympathisers of the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP), yesterday shot at All Progressives
Congress (APC) members who were campaigning
at Obalende in Lagos.
Five people were injured –one of them critically –
after the shooting.
An eyewitness said but for the intervention of
soldiers from Dodan Barracks, the injured would
have been more and that people would have been
killed immediately. Four people – Babangida Bello
shot in the leg; Gambo Idi shot close to the eye;
Ibrahim Musa and Jubril Ishaku whose ankles
were shattered – were last night being treated at
the Island Maternity Hospital (IMH), Lagos.
The fifth person, whose injury is critical, was
referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital
(LUTH) Idi Araba for further care.
According to an eye witness, the thugs chased
after APC members who began their rally close to
the State House en-route Obalende. But as the
thugs advanced behind them, they scurried into
Dodan Barracks and Ikoyi Cemetery for safety.
Some of those shot were not even part of the
rally.
Recounting his ordeal, Bello, who resides at 32
Ajeniya Street, said: “I was sitting in from of the
mosque when I saw the thugs. They were many
and armed with guns and machetes. They
approached me without saying a word and shot
me in the chest and leg. They also shot some
other people.”
Bello, who was writhing in pain, said some people
also sustained minor injuries while running from
the attackers.
APC member, Alhaja Rikiya Jubril, said their rally
was peaceful and orderly until they approached
Obalende via Ajeniya and Suya Junction when
news reached them that some thugs were
advancing to the area to unleash terror.
“Most of us scampered for our dear lives. I, along
with some women, ran into the barracks while
some of our members took solace in the
cemetery. It was a frightening sight. This must
stop before Saturday,” she said.
Mrs Jubril said the incident happened at about
6pm. “It was soldiers that saved us. I had to beg
a woman for clothes in the middle of the
stampede.”
She said the thugs shot at APC members who
were at the Obalende Office. “Many of those who
got injured were those sitting in the front of the
mosque,” she added.
Adamawa Youth Leader of APC in Lagos, Alhaji
Zakari Mohammed, said the casualty would have
been more but for two police men from MOPOL 2
who told them not to go to Obalende and the
intervention of some soldiers from Dodan
Barracks.
“Some PDP thugs came in buses and were
removing banners. We asked them not to remove
our candidates’ banners. The next thing they did
was to bring out their guns and machetes and
started attacking people. Many people were
injured,” he said.
He said: “Because the place is close to Dodan
Barrack the soldiers came in The soldeires were
forced to return fire which forced them to
disperse.
He said the soldiers recovered a bus loaded with
arms which they pushed into the barracks.
But PDP Lagos State Chairman Tunji Shelle
denied that the thugs were his party members.
Source: The nation

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