Thugs attack APC supporters in Ondo

SUSPECTED political thugs on Tuesday attacked supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Idanre, in the Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Our correspondent learnt that the thugs, said to be sympathetic to the Peoples Democratic Party, attacked a section of the Idanre community for voting for the APC candidates in the elections held on Saturday.

The situation led to anxiety in the community with fears of reprisals and escalation of the crisis across the state.

Publicity Secretary of the APC, Omo’oba Adesanya, said the party’s supporters were also attacked and injured in some parts of the Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

Adesanya said the party had prevailed on its members not to retaliate but to remain calm while the issues were being resolved by appropriate authorities.

But PDP’s Director of the Publicity, Ayodele Fadaka, said he was not aware of the matter and so would not be able to comment on it.

A government source told our correspondent that Governor Olusegun Mimiko, on receiving the information about situation in Idanre, had called the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke, who immediately sent his men to the area to forestall further breach of the peace.

As of the time of filing this report, officials of the Ondo State Government were holding a crucial meeting with leaders of the political parties and the leaders of the communities affected in a bid to douse the tension.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Wole Ogodo, confirmed the development at Idanre but that the situation had been brought under control.

Ogodo, who was reluctant to give the details of the incident, said, “Idanre is calm and peaceful right now. Our men were immediately drafted to the place and no one was injured and no life was lost.”