Two killed, five injured as violence rocks APC congress in Ondo

By Lawrence Agbo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress in Idanre, Ondo state, was marred by new violence on Wednesday, which resulted in two deaths and five injuries.

The incident happened at Odode-Idanre, the Idanre LGA headquarters, as the ruling party held congresses in each of the state’s 203 wards.

Suspected thugs broke into a stakeholders’ meeting at the APC secretariat in Akure on Tuesday and attacked party leaders, which is believed to have caused the unrest.

Among those targeted was the state caretaker chairman’s younger brother, Raphael Adetimehin.

He was sustauined machete cut after attackers allegedly thought he was his brother because of their similar appearance and was taken to the General Hospital in Idanre, where he is still in a coma, after witnesses said that his car was set on fire.

Ade Adetimehin stated that the attack was politically driven and supported by criminals associated with Tajudeen Adefisoye, a former member of the House of Representatives, whom he described as an ally of Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“They targeted my brother because they thought he was me. They shot him several times but bullets could not penetrate, so he was cut several times with a cutlass,” Adetimehin said.

However, according to a family source, Raphael might not have made it through the assault. Two other individuals, one of whom was operating a Venza, were shot dead during the confusion.

As of the time of this report, the identities of the other victims were still being verified.

The violence was confirmed by the Ondo state police command, which also reported that a car was set on fire and five unnamed people were attacked.

“Three victims sustained varying degrees of injury and are currently receiving medical attention while two others were confirmed dead at the hospital,” the police public relations officer said.

Order was restored when a combined security team commanded by NSCDC commandant Oluyemi Ibiloye and state commissioner of police Adebowale Lawal arrived on the spot.

Investigations to find and capture those responsible are still on, according to the police.