There is a growing concern in Enugu State over what seems like a return to political thuggery, following attacks on members of the Labour Party (LP) in the state.

Sunday, September 4 attack on members of the party, who gathered at Awgu ward 1, Awgu Local Council for a meeting, and in which scores were injured, was the second within one week in the state.

On August 31, 2022, members of the party, who gathered at Aninri Local Council for their meeting, were attacked by political thugs, who chased them away and pulled down their canopies, as well as destroyed their chairs. Many of the members allegedly suffered degrees of injuries.

In that of Awgu, the gunmen, who shot sporadically, had dispersed party members, destroyed their canopies, chairs and vehicles.

The hoodlums also made a video recording of themselves during the act, claiming working to “protect Biafra land against intruders.”

Reacting to the development, yesterday, a socio-political group, Youths Renaissance, asked politicians in the state to apply caution in their actions.

The group said: “What is happening now is capable of undermining peace in the state if not checked.”

Decrying the attacks in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Ijendu Ogbodo, the group said: “It will be wrong for anyone to assume there should not be dissenting political opinions in the state.”

Wondering why innocent citizens should be “brazenly attacked” for exercising different political opinion, the group called on security agencies to investigate and arrest those responsible for the attacks.

“We say this based on our conviction that these attacks were sponsored, otherwise other political parties are holding their meetings in the state freely without molestation,” they said.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, the National Leader of Youths Arise, Ejere Ukwuoma, lamented the gradual erosion of peace in the state due to desperation of some individuals in pursuit of political power.

Insisting that every political party should be given the same level of protection, he stated that something urgent should be done to protect voters to enable them participate in the 2023 general elections.