Gunmen attack SDP assembly candidate, campaign vehicles in Ondo

Gunmen suspected to be political thugs on Friday, attacked the campaign train of the House of Assembly candidate for Akure South consistency II of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State, Hon. Ebenezer Adeniyan.

The masked hoodlums numbering about ten shot sporadically at the campaign train of Adeniyan around Oke Aro area of the state capital, injuring several members of the campaign team

Some vehicles in the campaign train were destroyed with gunshots, while the campaign was called off abruptly.

According to an eye witness, the masked hoodlums invaded the campaign venue and started shooting sporadically to disrupt the activities line up for the campaign.

He explained that all the hoodlums were armed with guns, threatening that no campaign would hold in the area, saying this is not unconnected with the popularity of the SDP candidate for the House of Assembly election.

He said “We were on the tour of two wards in the constituency area and at the end of the tour, we went to Oke Aro to meet a political friend.

“Unfortunately, on our way back, we made a brief stop at the Abiodun junction to campaign to some community leaders.

“But as we were about to take our leave, the masked men came running towards us from the street and smashed the windscreen of our music truck.

“They started shooting all our branded cars through the windscreen but some brave men in the area gave them a hot chase not minding their guns.

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“Immediately, they fled the area and starting shooting in the air to scare people away and ran away in the same direction they came.”

Speaking on the attack, Adeniyan expressed shocks over the development saying it was not too good for the development of our growing democracy, saying all the campaign vehicles were damaged by the hoodlums

According to him, the latest attacks on his campaign trains was carried out by members of the opposition who are threatened by his rising popularity in the constituents.

He, however, disclosed that the attack has been reported at the B Division Station of the Ondo State Police Command in Akure.

Adeniyan said, “I was shocked, to say the least, and there have been a lot of attacks on my campaign for weeks since we started this electioneering process.

“Our banners are being stolen every day and posters torn everywhere in the Akure metropolis.

“However, I thank God that none of my team members was injured and I hope the police in Ondo State will investigate this attack and also get to the roots of the matter.”