Ten injured in Ondo by suspected political thugs

HOODLUMS suspected to be political thugs on Thursday, unleashed terror on the people and residents of Ala Elefuson community, in the Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo state, injuring about ten people in the attack.

The attack, according to a source occurred over the palliative measures by some members of a political party to grade the road leading to the area.

It was gathered that the hoodlums, numbering about 30 invaded the community and attacked the operator of the caterpillar grading the road, beating him to a pulp for daring to embark on the reconstruction of the road to gain political sympathy.

According to an eye witness, the hoodlums led by a man identified as Kobu were angry with members of the community for allowing members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to facilitate the grading of the road leading to the community.

He said the political thugs said the grading of the road was carried out to score political goal ahead of the next month general election, saying the grading was ill-timed.

ALSO READ: Anti-corruption war and the general election

He explained that the chairman of the community had approached members of the PDP in the area to assist them in the grading of the road after their pleas had been turned down by the Local Council Chairman severally.

Speaking on the attack, one of the community leaders,  Mr. Festus Makinsun, described the development as barbaric and unfortunate.

He alleged that those who invaded the community were APC members who had failed to attend to their plight, saying “the road had been a source of concern to the people of the community”

He said ” the road had been a death trap and has been affecting the movement of our farm produce to the market. But when we heave a sigh of relief, that the road will be better, accessible and motorable, these thugs invaded our community to stop the work.”

He explained that some members of the PDP who were at the area to monitor the grading were beaten to coma, saying no fewer than ten people were rushed to the general hospital in Idanre.

“They were beaten, matcheted and wounded and had to be rushed to the  hospital.”

“We hereby appeal to the security operatives to quickly nip the ugly incident in the bud so as not to cause chaos and anarchy in the community”.
he said

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Femi Joseph, was unavailable to confirm the development

However, the  APC  Director of Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said there was no iota of truth in the allegation, saying members of the party would not participate in activities that would disrupt the peace of the land.

Otaloro said the allegation was a mere gimmick to wipe up sentiment for the PDP, saying “the party failure a d loss is imminent in the forthcoming election”