A town hall meeting organised by supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Oregun area of Lagos State was violently disrupted on Thursday when suspected thugs stormed the venue, sending participants fleeing for safety.
The attackers, reportedly armed with cutlasses, cudgels, stones, and in some accounts guns, invaded the hall while proceedings were ongoing. Panic broke out as attendees scrambled in different directions, abandoning chairs and other items at the venue.
The meeting was reportedly being held for NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, who recently joined the party. Joseph Orukpe, an NDC House of Assembly candidate for Ikeja Federal Constituency, said the assailants not only attacked members but also vandalised vehicles and destroyed party merchandise.
NDC supporters fought back against the assault, overpowering and apprehending one of the attackers. Video footage from the scene showed the suspect, identified as Ibrahim, being detained by party faithful. Some members were seen shielding him from further assault, urging colleagues to stop. Ibrahim denied carrying a machete or being sent to disrupt the gathering, claiming he had only come to beg for money because “high-profile people” were present.
An eyewitness alleged that the hoodlums were affiliated with the ruling party, stating, “All those Yoruba guys wey dey drink, those APC guys. They shattered glasses and pursued everybody”.
As of the time of reporting, it remained unclear whether anyone was injured or if police had made any official arrests. The incident has heightened concerns over political violence and the safety of opposition supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections.