Gunmen on Tuesday attacked former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and members of the Obidient Movement in Benin City, Edo State, shortly after a political event in the city.
The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, disclosed that the incident happened during the formal defection of Olumide Akpata to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
According to Tanko, the attackers first trailed Obi and leaders of the ADC from the party’s secretariat in Benin City after the event.
As the convoy moved towards the residence of John Odigie-Oyegun, the armed men caught up with them and opened fire at the entrance gate of the residence.
The gunmen reportedly shot at the gate repeatedly, smashing it, while bullets also hit and damaged several vehicles in the convoy.
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The sudden attack caused panic among Obi’s supporters and ADC members, who ran for safety as security personnel swiftly moved to shield the former presidential candidate and escort him out of the area.
Tanko described the incident as a failed assassination attempt and warned that such violence posed a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic process.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies in Edo State had yet to issue an official statement on the attack, and no arrests had been confirmed.
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