By Osamudiamen Toby
Dire devil masked men yesterday unleashed terror on residents of Osadiaye Street, Upper Sokponba Road in the Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, beating and maiming their victims.
Eye witnesses accounts said the men some of whom were clad in military camouflage attacked house No. 8, in the densely populated area yesterday evening, beating everybody in sight, demanding to see Daniel Desmond, a 26 years old rights activist and public affairs commentator.
Clutching dangerous weapons including cut to size double barreled guns, machetes, and a sledge hammer, the attackers had a field day as they operated unchallenged, forcing residents and passersby to scamper to safety.
At the end of the attack the eye witnesses said, some of their victims which included Desmond’s relatives lay helplessly traumatized and badly injured.
The invaders were quoted to have asked their harpless victims thus; “where is the bastard who feels he knows too much. Where is Desmond? We will waste him next time he tries that nonsense. He should get off our pathway, if he doesn’t, he would be dead before the elections in March next year”
Incidences of political violence and intimidation have become common place since the formation of a formidable opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC perceived capable enough to challenge the ruling PDP ahead of the March 2015 general elections.
Daniel and some other vocal youths in Benin City, the Edo State capital have been very active in the fledgling All Progressives Congress’ political mobilization ahead of the general vote, demanding for an end to the administration of the corruption fraught People’s Democratic Party, PDP’s Federal Government and equally calling for their rejection in next year’s general elections.
Flowing from the new thinking among Nigeria’s poor and suffering youths who have started to mobilize support for the newly formed All Progressives Congress, a merger formed from three but now defunct oposition political parties, namely the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, the All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA ahead of the polls, the ruling party had allegedly deployed instruments of violence and intimidation to stay in power.
Reports indicates that Daniel and his group have been upbeat in their advocacy against Edolites voting for the candidates of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, citing pavassive insecurity and harsh economic situation in the country as reasons.
He had also condemned the militarization of the electoral process through heavy deployment of soldiers and equipment on elections days which he alleged, intimidates the voters and ultimately scare them away.
The latest attack smacks of misuse of state powers to intimidate and suppress the ordinary citizens to prevent them from performing their civic duties in order to gain undue advantage during the polls.
Recall that pockets of sponsored political violence ochestrated by the ruling PDP have resulted in the death of hapless individuals including in some cases, their foot soldiers who sometimes get cut down in needless politically induced gang fights.
At the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of Daniel Desmond and some of his family members remained uncertain as sources close to the scene of the attack said they were taken away by the invaders while another account said they had gone into hiding for fear of being killed by the marunders.
The Edo State Police Command however confirmed the incident and warned that the police will deal decisively with any security breach in the state.
