THE Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that five of its members were arrested by the State Police Command after gunshots were fired at the party’s campaign convoy in Ososa, Odogbolu Local Government Area of the state.
News Point Nigeria reports that the party called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and determine those responsible for the alleged attack.
The State PDP Chairman, Dr Abayomi Tella, made the allegations in Abeokuta while addressing journalists on what he described as political harassment and intimidation of opposition members in the state.
Tella said the incident occurred on Wednesday during the party’s Ogun East campaign flag-off, which began peacefully as party supporters moved from various local government areas through Ijebu-Ode towards Odogbolu.
According to him, trouble started when the last batch of vehicles in the convoy reached Ososa, where hoodlums allegedly attacked the convoy with gunshots and stones.
He said several vehicles were vandalised and some party members sustained injuries in the attack.
Tella, however, expressed concern that members of the party who were allegedly attacked had been arrested by the police instead of the alleged perpetrators.
He said the matter was reported at the Idowa Police Division and Igbeba Area Command, but claimed that at least five PDP members remained in custody.
“These complainants are the people who were attacked, and they are our members. But they are the ones the police are now arresting, while the perpetrators of the attack against us have been left untouched,” Tella said.
When contacted, the police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, told our correspondent that he was driving and requested that a text message be sent to him.
However, he neither responded to the message sent to his mobile phone nor returned subsequent calls from our correspondent.
The PDP chairman appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to deploy a special investigation team to Ogun State to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said the investigation should, among other things, establish the type of firearm allegedly used during the shooting.
“What I would plead with the IG to do is to thoroughly investigate what transpired on Wednesday, and request to know which type of gun was shot into our candidate car. What type of gun was shot into that particular rim that can penetrate that rim? I think that is important,” he said.
Tella also maintained that the PDP remained a peaceful party and said its members should be able to move freely across the state without fear.
“I think I have a right to walk anywhere in Ogun State, even by extension in Nigeria. If I now have to be walking around and I have to watch my back, then it then means they want to fail the IG. But I stand with him that he will not fail.
“So I, by this medium, request of him to send his special team to Ogun State to come and investigate this particular issue. Because the PDP is a peaceful party. And that’s why we have to quickly run to the police,” he said.
The alleged shooting occurred in Ososa, the hometown of the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate, Mrs Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun.