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Amnesty International has condemned Thursday’s violent attack by suspected political thugs on members and supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Oregun area of Ikeja, Lagos State.
The attack reportedly left over a dozen people with various degrees of injuries, cars destroyed, and disrupted preparations for a town hall meeting scheduled to be addressed by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.
According to witnesses, it occurred at about 11:00 am, before Obi and Kwankwaso arrived for the town hall, which was organised to prepare for the party’s official rally in Lagos.
In a Friday statement, Amnesty International warned that such brutal campaign of repression against the opposition is making it extremely difficult for them to exercise their rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly.
The organisation said the authorities must investigate the incident and ensure that those suspected of responsibility are held to account in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.
“Rampant violence particularly targeting opposition political parties and their activities undermines the right to freedom of association,” it said.
Amnesty International also said it received reports and verified digital evidence of such disruptions in other parts of the country.
It stated that the incident, which happened at the Classique Event Centre along Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, left the venue scattered, with blood on the floors as thugs aimed machetes and knives at people gathered for the event.
According to the organisation, the wanton attack also disrupted flow of traffic on Kudirat Abiola Way.
The statement reads, “Shops hurriedly closed and people ran to safety in all directions. Videos obtained by Amnesty International show thugs surrounding NDC supporters and hitting them with sticks and iron rodsm
“This is perhaps one of the most vicious and coordinated attacks targeting political gatherings of opposition political parties since campaigns started in August. Nobody should die or be injured simply for exercising their rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly.”
The Lagos State Police Command has since launched an investigation.
- One suspect, who identified himself only as Ibrahim, was reportedly apprehended by NDC supporters at the venue car park and handed to police.
Lagos police command spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi confirmed two men, Akinyemi Akeem and Ibrahim Babsule, sustained serious injuries and were taken to the Emergency Centre, Toll Gate.
The Lagos incident comes amid a wider pattern of concern. The National Peace Committee’s monitoring report, covering August 19 to October 27, 2026, recorded 109 breaches of the National Peace Accord across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, warning that armed political mobilisation, intimidation, divisive rhetoric and restrictions on political participation could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
Amnesty has previously condemned similar incidents, including the blockade and attack on Obi’s convoy in Benue State in September, and an attack on the campaign convoy of PDP governorship candidate Isa Pantami in Gombe.
“Such brutal campaign of repression against the opposition and its supporters, is making it extremely difficult for them to exercise their rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly,” Amnesty reiterated.
