Armed men attack Peter Obi campaign event in Lagos
Men with machetes, axes and sticks stormed a town hall of Peter Obi's Nigeria Democratic Congress in Lagos on Thursday, attacking supporters and journalists. The party blamed the ruling APC, which says the claim lacks evidence.
Armed men stormed a campaign event for Nigerian opposition candidate Peter Obi in Lagos on Thursday. They attacked supporters and journalists, his party and witnesses told AFP. The attack came two months before Nigeria's January 16 presidential election. Videos on social media showed men with sticks, machetes and axes rushing into a hall full of Obi supporters and scattering the crowd. Photojournalist Mansur Ibrahim told AFP that a large group of men forced their way in before Obi arrived. He said they broke all the entrance doors and glass walls. Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters then chased them into the road, where the two sides threw stones at each other. The Eastleigh Voice reported that the street battles lasted more than an hour before police arrived and fired tear gas. Security officials at the scene said they had not been told about the event, so they were not there to protect participants. Crowds chanted "APC must go" as police moved in, AFP reported. Journalists were also targeted. Sam Adebanjo of the online outlet TheCable said he was hit with an axe, punched and kicked. His equipment was stolen. He said he tried to resist, then handed…
Read more 3 min read