A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibadan, Oyo State, Abdul-Azeez Abdul-Ganiu, on Thursday narrowly escaped being lynched by mobs suspected to be political thugs of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
AbdulGaniu who also doubles as a political activist alongside other members of his group were violently attacked in the Ile-Titun area of Ibadan South East local government area of the state. No fewer than three people were killed and several injured in the attack.
It was learnt that with the attack, Ganiu has had a close shave with death on four occasions. The first attack, he recalled, was in March 2021 in the highbrow Lekki axis of Lagos State.
According to him, the second attack was in January 2022, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where he was attacked by some yet-to-be identified gunmen, who escaped through the bush path while the third attempt on his life was launched in September, 2022 in Ekiti, Ekiti State where I had a close shave with death but I was fortunate to escape with a huge scar on my body.
Narrating his ordeal, he said, “I am no longer save in my home country as a result of my political participation and activism. It all started during the build-up to the last general election when attempts on my life and that of my family became heightened. My activism has not only placed me in danger but has also brought immense danger to me, my family, and those close to him. I have been at the forefront of many protests and campaigns demanding for good governance and accountability from the government and its agencies.
This is why I decided to take my political participation further by going a political party to bring about the desired change. But instead of this, political thugs have been on my trail to unalive me.
The recent of such violent attack is the one that happened in Ile-Titun where three of our members were killed. I have been attacked severally to the point that I no longer felt safe anywhere in the country.
Additionally, political thugs who are loyal to the government have also targeted our family. These thugs operate with impunity, often funded or sponsored by political figures who want to silence critics. They have repeatedly attacked my home, vandalized my property, and threatened us with violence. I am living in constant fear for my safety and my life.”
Reacting to the attack, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Ademola Babalola, yesterday, condemned the pre-election violence, while calling for the arrest of the perpetrators of the killings.
He cautioned that Oyo State should not be allowed to descend into “war of political thugs” and killing of innocent citizens and residents.
Babalola in a statement made available by the NUJ Secretary, Sola Oladapo, bemoaned the clash between supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday.
He stated, “The senseless attacks and attendant killings of three people in Ile-Titun area of Ibadan South East local government area of the state ought not to have happened at all. This development has shown that our people are yet to learn their lessons that no blood of any individual is worth the aspiration of any candidate or their corresponding political party.
“It is a shame and highly reprehensible that despite the peace accord signed by the political parties and their gubernatorial candidates, supporters could still go overboard and engage in supremacy battle to the extent of shedding blood.”
Meanwhile, efforts to get the spokesman of the Oyo State police command proved futile as his line was out of reach as at press time.