There was outrage on Saturday in Enugu State when some suspected political thugs attacked supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the state.
PREMIUM TIMES stories that the attack started earlier on Saturday when some NDC supporters tried to collect on the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Emene, however had been dispersed by the hoodlums.
The supporters had been on the airport to welcome the NDC governorship candidate in Enugu State, Chinyeaka Ohaa, when the incident occurred.
Mr Ohaa landed on the airport forward of the NDC’s governorship marketing campaign flag-off on Saturday.
Video clips obtained by this newspaper confirmed a number of NDC supporters scampering for security amid sporadic shootings by the attackers.
In one of many clips, a suspected thug was noticed hitting an NDC supporter with a plank, injuring him in entrance of Air Force Base close to the airport in Enugu State.
The clip confirmed a person in military uniform standing close to the suspected thug, however he did nothing to cease the attack.
Shortly earlier than the thug attacked the sufferer, some NDC supporters had been heard beckoning to the person in military uniform that one other thug had surfaced, however he appeared unconcerned.
“Come up a bit, let’s know how we can take you to the hospital,” one of many supporters urged the injured sufferer, whose head was already gushing blood.
Some NDC supporters had been heard in one other clip lamenting that their automobiles had been broken by the attackers.
PREMIUM TIMES obtained a video clip displaying automobiles with broken windscreens.
Some NDC supporters had been heard accusing police and military personnel of complicity in the assaults. But this newspaper couldn’t independently confirm the claims.
From Airport to NDC secretariat
When the NDC supporters lastly gathered on the celebration’s secretariat in Enugu for the marketing campaign flag off, the suspected thugs additionally attacked them on the venue.
“Stay where you are,” some celebration leaders had been heard advising the frightened supporters as gunshots lease the air.
PREMIUM TIMES additionally obtained one other video clip displaying some supporters operating out of the venue in confusion.
The clip confirmed some police operatives taking pictures at these believed to be the political thugs close to the NDC secretariat whereas supporters scampered for security.
“You people did it at the airport, we kept quiet, now we are starting it again here in our party office,” an indignant NDC member was heard lamenting in a separate clip.
At the NDC secretariat, venue of the marketing campaign flag-off, some scattered chairs and disorganised canopies bore indicators of a disrupted political gathering.
Police silent
When contacted, the police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, requested to be reached by way of WhatsApp.
But Mr Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, had not responded to an enquiry forwarded to him on WhatsApp as of the time of submitting this report.
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Not the primary time
This will not be the primary time suspected political thugs have attacked NDC supporters and people of different events in Enugu State.
On 12 September, as an illustration, some hoodlums attacked and disrupted an NDC assembly in Ndiuno-Obuoffia Community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state.
Within the identical interval, suspected thugs carried out one other attack at St. Joseph Primary School in Agbani inside the similar council space the place hoodlums additionally destroyed canopies and chairs meant for a Peoples Democratic Party’s rally.
The police in Enugu State later ordered an investigation into the assaults.
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