Increasing political attacks highten fears in Edo State

0
558

By; RALPH OKHIRIA, Benin.
There is palpable tension in Edo State over increasing political attacks in the state.
Already, three different campaign groups including those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were attacked by political thugs within the last one week.
The campaign train of the PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was attacked last Tuesday at Auchi in Edo North Senatorial District while that of APGA led by its candidate, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu was also attacked in the same Auchi on Thursday.
The latest in the series of attacked occured last Saturday, when the campaign team of the APC candidate Mr. Godwin Obaseki was attacked at Illushi in Edo Central Senatorial Distrist of the State.
The APC attack however seemed to have taken a new dimension as five of the party supporters were alleged to have been abducted by the attackers.
Presently, palpable fear has gripped the various leaders of the political parties and their suporters as no one is certain as to what will happen when they go out for campaign activities.
“We do not know what is happening now or what we should do because we are afraid over the increasing numbers of attacks going on in our state.
“PDP, APGA and APC have alleged that they have been attacked and these are political parties with multitude of supporters and many security agents.
“We are very much afraid because we don’t know what will happen next and who will be the victim,” Mr. Johnson Aleke, an Accord Party leader, stated.
But when contacted, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris Ezike, said all the reported cases of political attacks were at various stages of investigation.
He disclosed that all the political parties pacticularly in the September 10, 2016 governorship election in the state, have adequate police protection and wondered where the alleged attacks were coming from.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here