A town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Lagos descended into violence on Thursday after suspected thugs armed with cutlasses and cudgels stormed the venue, forcing participants to flee before some supporters confronted the attackers.
The invasion occurred at Classic Event Place, Oregun, where party supporters had gathered ahead of the scheduled appearance of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Daily Trust reported that the sudden arrival of the attackers triggered panic, with several participants scrambling for safety as the armed men moved into the gathering.
However, some supporters resisted the invasion by throwing chairs at the intruders, eventually forcing them out of the hall.
The confrontation escalated when some NDC supporters, identifiable by their blue shirts and white fez caps, pursued the fleeing attackers and apprehended one of them at the car park.
A video from the incident reportedly captured some young men surrounding the apprehended suspect and repeatedly hitting him with sticks, while a voice urged them to deal with him.
The violence subsequently spilled onto Kudirat Abiola Way, a major road in the area, disrupting movement as the confrontation drew more people into the street.
Policemen reportedly fired shots into the air in an attempt to disperse the crowd and restore order.
The identities of the attackers, their possible sponsors and the circumstances leading to the invasion had not been independently established as of the time of filing this report.
The NDC’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, also raised the alarm over the attack, alleging that the party’s members were deliberately targeted.
In a post on social media, he questioned why anyone would seek to disrupt a town hall meeting organised for the party’s presidential candidate.
Neither Obi nor Kwankwaso had arrived at the venue when the violence erupted.
The incident raises fresh concerns about the safety of opposition political gatherings and the ability of political parties to conduct peaceful mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.
It also places renewed attention on the responsibility of security agencies to protect political meetings, investigate attacks and bring perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.
The police had yet to issue an official account of the incident, including whether arrests had been made or casualties recorded.
