One dead, 50 injured in attack on APC rally

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has said one of its members died in Sunday’s attack on its rally at Ode Alfa Nla in Ilorin.

APC alleged about 30 vehicles of members were destroyed by thugs.

Its governorship candidate, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, was said to have been hurriedly whisked away from the venue.

At a news conference yesterday, Kwara Central senatorial candidate Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe said the injured were receiving treatment at different hospitals.

The conference was attended by Abdulrazaq and party stalwarts.

AbdulRazaq reiterated that no threat of violence could suppress the people’s resolve to change the status quo.

According to him, Sunday’s attack was the fourth targeted at him since his convoy was attacked in November by gunmen in Kwara South.

He said: “You can’t impose your will on the people. What you have are a people clutching at straws. They are drowning men and they are on their way out. They have no answers to the agitation going on in the state.

“Ilorin has changed; Kwara has changed; people are tired. There were major defections to our party just yesterday in Kaiama. People want a breath of fresh air and their response to that is violence. We won’t join them to encourage violence. We will keep on reporting them to the appropriate authorities because this is our town and we won’t destroy it. We know they are not from here and they don’t care whatever happens to our community.”

Oloriegbe, who identified the deceased as AbdulRasheed Oloduowo, said: “Even our House of Assembly candidate, Ayinla Ayilara, had his Mercedes Benz and his branded vehicle smashed, as well as other cars belonging to our party members and supporters. The ugly incident perpetrated by well-known marauders and alleged agents of Senator Bukola Saraki happened about noon while our members gathered for the rally.

“The incident happened in the presence of law enforcement agents but they became helpless when about 50  armed thugs invaded the venue of the rally at Ode Alfa Nda, Pakata road, and unleashed terror on innocent APC members and supporters. The governorship and House of Assembly candidates escaped unhurt because of the tight security around them. In short, the hoodlums had their way as they succeeded in disrupting the programme.

“We implore our members and supporters not to be dissuaded by the unfortunate incident. We shall not allow Saraki and his cohorts to intimidate us. Let it be known that our preference for APC is a legitimate and democratic expression of our rights to vote for a party, choose our leaders, associate with whosoever we like and ventilate our views to say no to deceit, injustice, inequality and wanton disregard to rule of law.”

He urged the police and other law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to book to prevent a recurrence.

In another counter-claim on Sunday, PDP alleged political thugs loyal to APC attacked the Agbaji Ilorin family home of Senator Saraki.

The party said the thugs opened fire on residents, injuring 11 persons.

It added that the thugs also destroyed about 50 cars at various locations within Agbaji Quarters.