Political thugs on campaign train of a factional governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state,AbdulRahman AbduRasaq went on rampage on Thursday, unleashing violence on the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) at various locations in Ilorin, the state capital.
Though, many PDP supporters were attacked by the factional APC thugs, three of them who were seriously injured were receiving treatment at various private medical facilities in Ilorin as at the time of filing this report on Friday.
Those that sustained serious injuries from the attacks include Ambali AbdulMumini of Apaokagi street, Adeta, a stone thrown from AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq’s family house,Abdullateef Alaka of the same address and AbdulAziz Olayeri of Agbaji quarters; all in Ilorin.
Those attending to AbdulMumini said that they had extracted 10 bullets from his body.
AbdulMumini who spoke with difficulty told newsmen that he was attacked by the thugs on campaign train of AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq ” at Baba Ibadan compound, Apaokagi street, Adeta where PDP members were holding their meeting.
” We were at PDP zonal meeting when the thugs on the campaign train alighted from their trucks and started shooting at us. I was hit by bullets several times before I was rescued and taken to an hospital. 10 bullets had been extracted from my body.”
On his part, AbdulAziz Olayeri said he was attacked in front of his house at Agbaji quarters when he was trying to prevent the APC thugs from attacking some of the people of the area who countered the APC supporters ‘ O toge’ slogan with the shout of” Sai leader, Atunwa One “.
Another victim, Abdullateef Alaka said he was shot at Baba Ibadan compound, Apaokagi street, Adeta where he was attending the PDP zonal meeting.
It was gathered that the factional APC thugs also had a stop over at the office of the Kwara central chairman of the PDP, Alh Jimoh Adesina, Ipata Oloje area of Ilorin, but they were repelled by the security guards manning the office.
The Director General of the ABS Constituency Office, Ilorin, Alh Musa Abdullahi on Friday, on behalf of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki visited the victims at different locations where they were receiving treatment.
He expressed the sympathy of the Senate President to them over the unfortunate incidents and thereafter settled their medical bills.
Meanwhile,the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state has condemned Thursday’s attack on its members in Ilorin by thugs loyal to the factional APC governorship candidate in the state, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
The party in a statement on Friday by its state publicity secretary, Mr Tunde Ashaolu, condemned the attack and expressed worry over the intolerance and brigandage being demonstrated by the APC and its supporters.
“At Adewole, the APC thugs attacked our members, who were in a meeting and shot sporadically into the air to disperse them, which resulted into two of our members sustaining gunshot injuries. The thugs were reportedly led by Comrade Musbau Esinrogunjo, a former senatorial aspirant of the BOB-led APC.
“Also, at Pakata, one Ibrahim Labaika led hoodlums to attack our members with matchet, and one of them was seriously injured. They also destroyed billboards belonging to our party and the Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki. Some of our members were equally attacked at Solagberu, Agbaji ward by these APC thugs.
“We condemn these attacks on our members while calling on the police to investigate this incident and ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
“As a party, we are worried over the frequent attacks on our members, intolerance and brigandage being demonstrated by the APC and its supporters. We have always alerted the public and security agencies to the violent tendencies of the APC. We are, again drawing the attention of peace-loving Kwarans to this latest act of violence and politics of bitterness by the APC.
“We call on security agencies in the State to look into the activities of this faction of the APC that has been declared illegal by the court.
“The security agencies should also warn the leaders of the party to caution their political thugs in order to prevent any crisis and breakdown of law in any part of the State. Kwara cannot withstand this circle of hooliganism and violence by the APC.
“We call on Kwarans to stand against these acts of violence and reject these desperate politicians, who want to hijack power by all means possible. We have a duty to maintain the peace and harmony Kwara has been known for. We must not allow any group of people to endanger the peace and stability we enjoy in the State, particularly as we prepare for the general elections.
“We also urge our members across the State to always remain calm and not to retaliate any attack or provocative acts from the APC.
“The Kwara PDP also wishes to note that no amount of intimidation, harassment and violence would stop our party from winning the forthcoming elections in the state.”