FOUR persons were confirmed injured as hoodlums attacked supporters of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as he campaigned in Lagos State on Saturday, February 11.
The state police command confirmed the attack through its public relations officer, Benjamin Hundeyin.
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In a series of tweets, Hundeyin said the police had launched an investigation into the attack.
The ICIR reports that LP supporters and vehicles came under attack in the state as the party’s candidate, Peter Obi, was in the nation’s commercial hub and one of the country’s most populous states to seek votes in his bid to become Nigeria’s next leader through a presidential poll scheduled for February 25.
According to Hundeyin, the incident occurred 15 kilometres from the rally’s Tafawa Balewa Square venue.
Describing the attack as ‘reprehensible’, the police spokesperson said security had been provided at the venue a day before the campaign.
He explained that the Jakande Ward Chairman of the LP reported the attack at Ilasan Division.
“The injured and other witnesses are assisting the police with relevant information that would aid the apprehension and prosecution of the attackers.”
All four injured persons have been given medical attention, and the divisional police office at Ilasan had commenced preliminary investigations while the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) would fully take over investigations into the case, he stated.
“It is verifiable that the Command had stationed, since yesterday, patrol vehicles and officers at the Tafawa Balewa Square venue of today’s rally. We had already secured the venue to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
“The regrettable attack happened at about 15km away from the rally venue. As earlier stated, the SCID will take over investigations towards apprehending and prosecuting the attackers,” Hundeyin said.
The ICIR reports that politicians seeking elective offices at the national level in Nigeria bank on Lagos and other key states to harvest votes.
Lagos State is the home of the All the Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, the state’s former governor and renowned kingmaker in the state and beyond.
Since he governed Lagos between 1999 and 2007, his party has always won in the state.
Peter Obi faces Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and others in an election expected to be the most keenly contested in Nigeria’s history.
Marcus bears the light, and he beams it everywhere. He's a good governance and decent society advocate. He's The ICIR Reporter of the Year 2022 and has been the organisation's News Editor since September 2022. Contact him via email @ [email protected].