Armed attackers disrupted Peter Obi’s Lagos town hall meeting after suspected political thugs invaded a gathering of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters in Oregun, Ikeja, triggering panic and renewed concerns over political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The incident occurred at Classic Event Place, where supporters had gathered ahead of the expected appearance of the party’s presidential candidate. According to reports, the attackers approached the venue from Kudirat Abiola Way at about 11:00 a.m., carrying cutlasses, cudgels and stones as they attempted to enter the hall.
Their arrival caused participants to flee, while chairs and other materials were scattered during the confrontation. Some supporters, however, resisted the attackers and prevented them from taking control of the venue.One suspected assailant was apprehended by the crowd, while others reportedly escaped.
The confrontation later spilled onto Kudirat Abiola Way, disrupting traffic as motorists made U-turns and pedestrians hurried away. Police officers reportedly fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd. Some participants sustained injuries, although the number of victims had not been confirmed.
The Lagos State Police Command subsequently arrested a suspect identified as Ibrahim. In a viral video, the suspect, who was seen with his hands and legs tied inside a police patrol vehicle, denied being recruited to attack the gathering.”I came to beg for money,” he said, also denying that he carried cutlasses.
However, NDC supporters alleged that the attackers arrived with weapons, damaged vehicles and fired gunshots to intimidate participants before they resisted them. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, questioned the motive behind the incident in a post on X, asking, “Why is APC afraid of Peter Obi?”
The Lagos APC, through its spokesman, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, rejected allegations of sponsorship, describing them as reckless, baseless and irresponsible. Police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi said officers were still at the scene and would update the media after receiving reports from personnel handling the situation.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is set to investigate rising political violence across the country.
Emiabata Deborah Oluwabusiolami
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