Lagos Political Violence: Many Injured, Robbed, Property Destroyed As Political Thugs Attack Labour Party Members

Many Labour Party members were injured, others robbed, while property worth millions of Naira were destroyed when thugs suspected to be working for the All Progressive Congress (APC) attacked Labour Party Members in Suru-Lere area of Lagos yesterday, March 16, 2023.

The thugs, who were armed with guns, broken bottles, daggers, matchetes, charms and other dangerous weapons ambushed the Labour Party supporters at Bode Thomas Junction.

A witness, Johnson Udoh, said that the Labour Party supporters ran into an eatery for cover, but the thugs who were shouting’ no labour party, except APC , Sanwo-Olu for Governor “, stormed the eatery where they attacked the members.

According to Udoh,” we were beaten Some people were stabbed. One person was shot. Some were stabbed. The thugs robbed many of us. They collected our phones, wristwatches, trinkets, and other personal effects. The thugs also smashed the windshields of our campaign vehicles.

“They equally warned us not to come out on Saturday to vote for our candidate. One of them said that what we witnessed today was a tip of the iceberg. He boasted that the police,army and other security agencies would not save us on Saturday. That is why we are appealing to the Inspector- General of Police to prevail on Lagos State Commissioner of Police to do something about the threat on LP supporters by the APC thugs”.

There is a viral video of some LP supporters narrating their ordeals in the hands of APC thugs ,who allegedly unleashed mayhem on them at Suru-Lere area of the State.

A women was seen shouting that her belongings including her eyes glasses lenses were stolen from her. She was shouting,” I can’t see anymore, my eyeglass lenses have been stolen by the thugs”

Another woman believed to be working in the eatery was also shouting that the place was destroyed while some of their property were destroyed.

Another man was showing the vehicles that were touched by the thugs.

There was not official reaction from either of the APC or LP candidates, but some LP members have expressed fears that their lives were in danger , especially when they have been many threats on LP supporters and non indigenes.

According to Mark Okelue,” the threat on non Indigenes and labour party supporters is to intimidate us not to come out to vote, by this ,we will be defranchised, but we must come out to vote. We also learned that some traditional rulers have threatened to deal with non Indegenes who would come out to vote against the incubent Governor. They have even to unleash their traditional Masquerade (Oro) on us.”

Lagos State Police Publlic Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that there was an attack on the LP supporters, but that he could not pin the hoodlums to any party.

He said , ”there was attack on LP supporters but we can pin the attack on any party. One person was injured and one tricycle belonging to the hoodlums which they abandoned when the Police responded to a distress call.labour party has officially reported about the attack, but the police are investigating.”

(Daily Sun)