INSIDE STORY: How ‘political’ thugs are unleashing havoc in Lagos community

Residents of Makoko, a community in Lagos Mainland LGA, are currently living in fear over violent attacks perpetrated by supporters and thugs allegedly affiliated with political parties.

Since the start of the year, the community has witnessed a series of election-related violent activities – a development that has created apprehension and anxiety.

On February 23, the campaign convoy of Segun Gbayi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the house of representatives, was attacked by suspected political thugs in the community.

During the attack, several PDP members were reportedly injured and some of the branded campaign vehicles were vandalised.

Gbayi was said to have escaped unhurt during the attack.

The thugs also attacked the campaign secretariat of Gbayi located in the Olulu area of Makoko.

The suspected thugs, allegedly loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC), were said to have targeted members of the opposition parties.

In the wake of the violence, police officers and soldiers were mobilised to the area to restore peace and order.

ELECTION DAY VIOLENCE

The violence however snowballed to February 25 — the day of the presidential and national assembly elections — when thugs were said to have attacked voters and supporters of political parties.

One of those attacked is a PDP member who identified himself as Nuru.

The PDP member was allegedly ambushed by stick-wielding thugs around the Apollo area of Makoko.

Following the attack, he was taken to the hospital after reporting the case to police officers in the area.

A few days later, precisely on March 3, Nuru was again attacked by thugs while returning from Jumat service.

Nuru told TheCable that the thugs used broken bottles to stab him in many parts of his body and that he escaped by running into a nearby hotel.

TheCable obtained a CCTV recording showing how hoodlums attacked Nuru while he was trying to seek refuge in the hotel.

The PDP member said doctors stitched seven areas in his body during treatment.

Nuru alleged that he was attacked by thugs loyal to one Mudashiru Odetunde, a Lagos socialite popularly known as Shinner.

Odetunde is affiliated with the ruling APC in the state. In February, he organised a “one million man mega rally” for President-elect Bola Tinubu and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos.

PDP SECRETARIAT DESTROYED

The political thugs also invaded the Lagos Mainland secretariat, located at 36, Akinwunmi street, Alogomeji area, vandalising the facility and robbing those inside the premises.

Speaking with TheCable, Malomo Adelabi, chairman of PDP in Lagos Mainland, alleged that the thugs, led by one Lekan Olaiya, popularly known as Lekan Abule, attacked the party’s secretariat.

Adelabi claimed that the thugs are loyal to the APC, adding that no arrest has been made despite reporting the incident at Adekunle police station.

“They ransacked the secretariat and destroyed properties. They also robbed the tenants residing within the secretariat. They stole phones and laptops,” he said.

“We reported this at Adekunle police station. No arrest was made. Before then, on the 23rd, our campaign convoy was moving in Makoko after the end of the campaign, we were attacked by this same Lekan Abule around Makoko roundabout.

“We will call the attention of the commissioner of police because governorship and state assemblies election is coming soon.”

The PDP chairman said his party members in Lagos Mainland have continued to face intimidation and harassment from thugs.

‘THEY ARE USING MY NAME TO TELL LIES’

When TheCable reached out to Odetunde to react to the allegations against him by Lagos PDP, the socialite and APC supporter said he did not send thugs to carry out attacks.

“I won’t lie to you, I know the allegation you are asking about, I don’t know anything about it. I don’t need to react. If I have anything to do with the allegation, I will react to it,” he said.

“I don’t have any problem with them (PDP members). They just use my name to tell lies.”

TheCable has reached out to the leadership of the APC in the state for comments on the allegations that some of its members are sponsoring violence in the community.

‘I’M NOT AWARE’

Benjamin Hundeyin, Lagos police spokesperson, told TheCable on Thursday that he is not aware of attacks on Lagos Mainland PDP secretariat and party members in Makoko.

“I don’t even know about the attacks you are talking about. It is when I know about the attack that I will be telling you if suspects were arrested,” he said.

When informed that the PDP chairman in Lagos Mainland said the incident was reported to the police station, Hundeyin said: “It is possible but I’m not aware of it.”