Suspected thugs attack Edo ADC secretariat

The Edo State Secretariat of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Benin City, the state capital, came under attack by suspected political thugs on Wednesday night, resulting in damage to property and the destruction of the party’s emblems.

It was gathered that the suspected thugs arrived at the ADC secretariat in a white bus and carried out the attack at about 8 p.m.

Witnesses said the assailants, upon arrival at the secretariat, poured a substance suspected to be fuel around the building before sympathisers intervened and prevented the structure from being razed.

The Edo State Police Command, while confirming the attack, said it quickly deployed police operatives to the scene to restore normalcy.

During the attack, some billboards around the building and other ADC emblems were pulled down, while part of the building was gutted by fire allegedly set by the suspected thugs.

The Edo State Chairman of the ADC, Kennedy Odion, who said the party moved into the secretariat in January, added that it was not a mere coincidence that the attack occurred weeks after the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, allegedly threatened not to allow any opposition in the state.

Odion called on security agencies to fish out the attackers and prosecute them to prevent a recurrence.

According to him, “I got a distress call yesterday that our secretariat was on fire. I contacted the security agencies to help put out the fire. Eyewitnesses said they saw a bus that brought some masked boys, who poured fuel around the building to set it on fire.

“They destroyed party billboards and other items. We have reported the incident to enable the security agencies bring the perpetrators to book. We believe the APC had threatened that it would not allow any opposition to grow in this state.

“This statement was credited to Jarret Tenebe, where he said he would not watch the ADC exist in this state. We are calling on the Federal Government to make a statement and arrest the arsonists.

“We believe in the democratic process, and that is why we are calling on the authorities to ensure this does not happen again.

“We moved into this place on January 17 this year. We have arrangements with local security to secure the premises, and we are still putting the place in order. The attackers tried to break into the building. This shows that you cannot silence the people. We did not pay those who chased the attackers away. The security agencies must separate themselves from the government and do the needful,” Odion said.

Confirming the incident, the Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Eno Ikoedem, said suspected hoodlums invaded the party’s premises and destroyed property.

She said police operatives were mobilised to the scene to restore normalcy.

“Preliminary assessment revealed malicious damage to flags and two shattered windows in the premises. Security has since been deployed to the area to forestall further attacks, while investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible.

“The command appreciates the prompt call made to the Control Room, which saved the situation. It encourages members of the public in distress to do the same through its dedicated lines and warns miscreants against such heinous acts, as anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law,” she said.