AGENE GODWIN, Benin
Some supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were on Saturday night abducted by alleged thugs of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Edo state.
The supporters were abducted with two campaign vehicles belonging to the state ruling party after a governorship rally in Illushi, near Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo.
It was learnt that while three of the abducted supporters, including a popular entertainer, Maleke and two other escaped, others and the vehicles were yet to be found as at the time of filling this report.
Maleke’s escape did not however come easy as he, and Jonathan Orukpe, personal driver to the deputy governorship candidate, and Sani Kamil, the Sound man, were seriously beaten and the wind screen of the vehicle smashed.
“We were beaten, molested and almost thrown into the river Niger by some of the thugs, who repeatedly shouted at us for daring to come to the area, which they claim have been secured for Pastor, the PDP governorship candidate.
“Before they started, the thugs, one of who is called Lucky, took away our phones, and asked us to sit on the floor, it was when they heard that security agencies have been mobilized that they left and a woman from the community, assisted us to escape,” explained Maleke.
Trouble began at the campaign ground when some of the PDP thugs infiltrated the crowd and started breaking vehicle glasses and chanting PDP with the poster of the opposition party candidate in their hands.
The press crew vehicle and some journalists were molested, while some vehicles of the APC, that packed some distance from the campaign ground due to the terrain, hurriedly left for fear of being torched.
Meanwhile, the candidate of the APC, Mr Godwin Obaseki who described the incident as unfortunate and a sign of desperation on the part of the PDP, said the matter has been reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Ubiaja, Esan South East.
He however said that in spite of the intimidation, harassment and deliberate provocation, the ruling party remains undeterred, and will go on with its peaceful campaign.
“We had a peaceful rally at Illushi and part of my convoy was waylaid and supporters abducted, taken into the bush, beaten, molested and some of them have been gravely hurt. We do not expect this level of violence from the PDP supporters at Illushi.
“We have come to report the case at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Ubiaja and we hope that the authority will carry out the necessary investigation and get to the bottom of the matter.
We however appeal to our supporters to be calm, we know that the PDP has perfected plans to intimidate us, perpetuate violence but we will not be deterred, because we are lawful and peace loving people.
“We seek peace and we preach peace, we want to have a very peaceful election, so no matter the amount of intimidation and provocation, we will not be deterred,” declared Obaseki.
