Six injured as thugs attack PDP supporters in Ondo

No fewer than six supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have been hospitalised in Idanre, headquarters of Idanre Local Government, following an alleged attack by political thugs.

The purported attack on the PDP members was coming a few days before Saturday’s governorship election.

While revealing this, the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP in the state, Adeyemi Raymond Fasoranti, identified one of the victims as Otunba Olowoniyi Akinleminu.

According to him, other victims were taken to the intensive care unit of the State Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

Olowoniyi said the thugs unleashed terror on the people because of the success of the party’s rally in the locality, stressing that the thugs boasted that many would be killed before and during elections.

Another PDP chieftain, Bosede Salami, said the lives of PDP members were being threatened by suspected political thugs and cultists invited by political gladiators in the town.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Oladipo Abayomi, has directed the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) to launch a full-scale investigation into the incident.

Oladipo said he convened a peace meeting by bringing together leaders of the two major political parties in the area, and he urged them to maintain peace and prevent their supporters from inciting violence.

The Ondo CP spoke in a statement by the spokesman of the Ondo Police Command, SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya.

“Despite these efforts, however, disturbances erupted overnight, resulting in shootings and a breakdown of public order,” Odunlami-Omisanya said.

“The case, which has escalated into violence and attempted murder, is currently under investigation to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that peace is restored in the area, particularly at such a critical juncture in the state’s history.

“The CP has made it clear that the Command will exercise zero tolerance towards any individual or group, whether directly or indirectly involved, who engages in or permits actions that could disrupt the peace before, during, or after the election.

“He calls on parents, community leaders, and influential figures to warn their followers, children, and loved ones to avoid any form of disruptive behaviour during this period.”