Last year, hoodlums suspected to be political thugs unleashed violence on a member of Edo State Labour Party (LP), Mr Eilojie Eronwonsele Ayeni Godwin, leaving him with varying degrees of life-threatening injuries.

Properties estimated to be several millions of naira were not spared by the assailants who invaded his residence about 10am on February 1, 2023, at 2, Aibuedefe Avenue, Off Upper Mission Extension, Lucky Way Junction, Aduwawa, Benin City.

A visit by our correspondent to the scene then revealed damaged windshields of a black Toyota RX350 marked LKK276-AKD and relics of other household items destroyed by the thugs.

A witness disclosed that the hoodlums attacked the LP member with gun boots, machetes and other dangerous weapons. It was gathered that Mr Eilojie Eronwonsele was rescued by neighbours who rushed him to an undisclosed hospital when the incident happened.

The rampaging thugs, it was further learnt, went to attack the LP member’s son Godspower Osamudiamen Eronwonsele inside the apartment.

Investigation revealed that trouble started after Mr. Eilojie Eronwonsele, a staunch supporter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), left the party to join the opposition, Labour Party (LP).

Some individuals, notorious for political thuggery and cult violence in the state, allegedly threatened to kill Mr Eilojie Eronwonsele Godwin if he refused to return to his former party, the APC.

Attempts to obtain comments from Mr Eilojie Eronwonsele failed as he was said to have been receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital.

Confirming the attack, the Public Relations Officer for Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the police have zero tolerance for political violence and thuggery, and appealed to the public to give useful information to the police in order to track the hoodlums.

Ironically, as campaigns have started in the next governorship election in Edo State, residents of the area have reported the infiltration of strange faces into their neighbourhood.

“Just few days ago, somebody came asking about Mr Godwin and his family. We told him they hardly stay at home these days, and asked him to leave a message. But he refused to leave a message and promised to come back. Curiously, some of us followed them and saw that the man entered a vehicle parked down the road with other three occupants,” a neighbour told our reporter.

He wondered if this might be one of the reasons Mr Godwin and his family hardly stayed at home. However, several attempts to speak with Mr Godwin have not proved successful.