A multimedia journalist with TheCable, Samuel Adebanjo, has been assaulted by suspected political thugs during a town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Lagos State.
The incident occurred around 11am on Thursday, November 12, at Classique Event Centre in the Oregun area of Lagos, where the party had scheduled a town hall meeting.
The party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was reportedly on his way to the venue when the violence erupted.
According to reports, suspected political thugs invaded the premises shortly after NDC supporters began arriving for the event. Their arrival triggered panic as attendees, including journalists, struggled to escape.
Videos circulating on social media showed people engaging in physical confrontations, with some wielding sticks and chairs. Several vehicles were reportedly damaged, while gunshots were allegedly fired into the air.
During the chaos, Adebanjo reportedly attempted to hide behind a parked vehicle but was surrounded by six suspected attackers.
The journalist said the assailants punched, slapped and kicked him while demanding that he surrender his recording equipment.
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He further disclosed that one of the attackers attempted to strike his wrist with an axe, but the weapon hit his wristwatch instead.
The attackers eventually seized his camera, gimbal and microphone, which were reportedly worth millions of naira, before escaping.
Narrating his experience, Adebanjo explained that he was close to the entrance, preparing to record the arrival of NDC supporters when the attackers rushed into the premises.
He said he initially attempted to run towards the event hall but changed his mind after noticing that the attackers were heading in the same direction.
NDC supporters reportedly apprehended one of the suspected attackers during the confrontation.
The violence later spread to the adjoining road, disrupting traffic as both sides reportedly exchanged objects, including bottles.
Police operatives arrived about an hour after the incident began and deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd.
However, some senior security officials reportedly claimed that the organisers failed to inform the police and other security agencies about the gathering ahead of time.
The NDC’s Lagos spokesperson, Olushile Akinyemi, was contacted for clarification on the party’s communication with security agencies, but his response was still being awaited.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over attacks on opposition party activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Similar attacks were reportedly recorded during an NDC mobilisation exercise in Okpai Community, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, where some supporters sustained injuries and a campaign vehicle was damaged.
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