Fear in Osun communities over political attacks

•Five houses, car burnt, politicians injured •APC, PDP trade blame

Residents of Igangan in Atakumosa East Local Government Area of Osun State now live in fear.

This followed the violent attacks on the community last Sunday evening.

During the attacks, allegedly carried out by political thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), five houses and a car were burnt.

Since the attacks on Sunday in Atakumosa East and another on residents of Kajola in Atakumosa West Local Government Area, on the eve of the presidential and National Assembly elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP in the state have been trading blames against each other.

At Igangan, five houses, a car and other valuables valued at millions of naira were destroyed.

At Kajola, the incident, which reportedly happened between 8 p.m to 9 p.m, allegedly affected some APC members who were said to have been injured during the attack.

Narrating her ordeal, a victim and member of the APC, identified as Iyaloja of Atakumosa West Local Government Area, Mrs. Iyalode Adegboku, alleged that they were attacked by “PDP thugs” while holding a meeting on Friday at Kajola on the eve of the postponed February 16 presidential and National Assembly polls.

According to her, those at the meeting were thoroughly beaten.

Mrs Adegboku said she got a machete cut on the leg while the finger of her son, Olalekan Jimoh, was cut with an axe while she was defending her.

Describing the incident as barbaric, callous and wicked, the businesswoman urged security agents to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.

APC Chairman in Atakumosa West Local Government Area, Francis Famurewa, who said the incident had been reported to the police, wondered why politics degenerated into maiming and killings.

Early last week, APC candidate for Osun East Senatorial District, had accused his opponent in the PDP, Chief Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, of procuring arms ahead of the last weekend’s postponed polls.

Famurewa, who addressed reporters, accused Fadahunsi of buying and importing 100 guns (60 AK-47 and 40 pump actions).

He also alleged that Fadahunsi used political thugs, led by some known criminals, to unleash terror on Ifewara, Iwara, Olowu, Atorin, Temidayo, Tobalase, Lapaide, Faforiji communities in Atakumosa East Local Government Area.

But Fadahunsi accused the APC for the attacks.

Threatening to sue Famurewa over the allegation, he said: “I give him (Famurewa) seven days to prove where he saw me importing guns into Osun East Senatorial District to attack residents. And if he fails to do so, I will not hesitate to institute litigation against him.”

Addressing reporters in Ilesa, Fadahunsi, who denied the allegation, said: “I don’t need to purchase guns to arm my people. I am rather interested in developing my people.”

The politician insisted that those Famurewa named were people who worked for the APC in the previous elections.

He said: “I can say boldly that the thugs were those who have worked for the APC in the previous elections. They were popularly called ‘State Boys’. When they were working for the APC, they were not called thugs, but when they renounced their past deeds and stopped working for the APC, they are now called thugs.”

Police Commissioner Mrs. Abiodun Ige, who visited the affected communities for on-the-spot assessment, said investigations had begun to unveil those behind the incidents.

She assured that whoever is found culpable for the attacks, not minding his or status, would not go unpunished.