Gunmen numbering about ten, Saturday, invaded the Ake Palace Ground in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, venue of the ongoing parallel congress of a group of the All Progressives Congress, APC, loyal to the former Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite; the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Tolu Odebiyi and the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM in the 2019 election in the State, Adekunle Akinlade were amongst the dignitaries who were already at the venue before the gunmen came calling.
The Minister and the Senator who had barely arrived the venue in company of Akinlade and others were exchanging pleasantries with party loyalists when the gunmen invaded the venue.
The trio however escaped unhurt but many others were unlucky as they sustained different degrees of injuries.
The gunmen who were allegedly led by a Transport Union leader in Ogun State alighted from their vehicle and shoot their ways into the venue of the Congress.
One of the party faithful who also escaped unhurt but doesn’t want his name mentioned said he identified the Ogun State Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, Titilayo Akibu popularly called Efele leading the thugs.
He also identified one Habib Makai amongst the unmasked thugs while others were on nose mask.
Several vehicles parked in front of the Palace were destroyed while men of the Ogun State Police Command deployed to the venue looked away.
Immediately after the thugs who allegedly demanded for the former Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Union, Akeem Adeosun popularly called Jango, who was earlier sighted at the congress ground, left the venue, party faithful descended on the police officers at the venue and attempted chasing them away.
They were however unsuccessful as the officers started shooting and released tear gasses to wade off the angry mob.
Officers of the South West security outfit, Amotekun, who also looked on during the invasion were successfully chased away from the venue.
Details later.
Source: Daily Independent
