The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the attack by “some hoodlums” on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) State Secretariat in Benin City, the state capital.

It stated that it also received a report about alleged gunshots at the residence of a former governor of Edo, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

READ ALSO: Okpebholo Condemns Attack On ADC Members In Edo

It said that there were reports of incidents of unrest at the ADC’s political event on Wednesday, which led to a stampede at the end of the occasion, shortly after the programme was officially concluded, and most dignitaries had departed the venue.

“At about 1455hrs, during political activities at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) State Secretariat located at Ogbelaka Street, off Sapele Road, Benin City, some hoodlums allegedly infiltrated the gathering and caused panic, which led to a stampede at the end of the occasion, shortly after the programme was officially concluded, and most dignitaries had departed the venue.

“The hoodlums were said to have caused commotion, chased members away, and thrown the furniture at the venue upside down. Police patrol teams swiftly responded to the distress call, but the hoodlums fled upon sighting operatives.

“Plastic chairs and canopies that were arranged and kept on the road outside the premises of the secretariat for the event were vandalised and damaged,” the police disclosed in a statement by Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem.

“No casualties were recorded. However, during the ensuing stampede, one woman sustained injuries not related to gunfire. She was promptly treated at a nearby chemist and has since been discharged.

“Security has been reinforced around the secretariat and its environs to forestall any further breakdown of law and order,” they added.

‘Signs Of Malicious Damage’

The Command stated that its operatives observed signs of malicious damage at the former governor’s residence.

“In a related development, at about 1548hrs, the Command received a distress report alleging that gunshots were heard at the residence of the ADC state chairman and former Executive Governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie Oyegun.

“Upon arrival at the residence, police operatives observed signs of malicious damage. Items reportedly destroyed included two rear windscreens and body parts of vehicles parked outside the residence. No casualty was recorded at the residence.

“The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, has ordered the commencement of a full-scale investigation into the incidents with a view to identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting the perpetrators,” the police added.

Gunmen suspected to be political thugs attacked some chieftains of the ADC at the residence of the erstwhile APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, in Benin City, Edo State.

The incident was said to have occurred shortly after the chieftains returned from the ADC secretariat, where they formally welcomed a former governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Olumide Akpata, into the party.

Condemning the attack, a former presidential candidate of the LP, Peter Obi, who is a chieftain of the ADC, said, “We will make a formal complaint, and I assure you that this cannot continue,” Obi told the party members in Benin City.

“We have a country, and we are part of the country. We cannot have terrorism terrorizing the country and have officials in government terrorising citizens. It is unacceptable.”

But while condemning the attack, Governor Monday Okpebholo said, though the precise motive behind this attack may not yet be fully known, he strongly believed that the ultimate objective was to discredit Edo State and undermine its reputation as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.