The African Democratic Party’s (ADC) Edo State secretariat in Benin was stormed Wednesday night by alleged attackers.
The office on Ogbelaka Street, party flags had been vandalized, two windows had been damaged, and several billboards had been removed from the building. Parts of the structure were also destroyed by fire.
Party members were observed discussing the event on the premises, warning against any more attempts to stir disturbance while they were still on site.
Eyewitnesses stated the incident happened about 8 p.m. on Wednesday, and that the assailants arrived in a white bus and allegedly poured a liquid presumed to be fuel around the structure in an attempt to set it on fire.
Residents in the region were alleged to have interfered, saving the structure from being fully destroyed.
Mr. Kennedy Odion, the Edo State Chairman of the ADC, told our correspondent over the phone on Thursday that the party moved into the secretariat last month and urged security authorities to find and prosecute the criminals to prevent a repetition.
He said, “I received a distress call on Wednesday that our secretariat was on fire. I immediately contacted security agencies to help put out the fire.
“Eyewitnesses told us that a bus conveyed some masked boys to the scene and that they poured fuel around the building to set it on fire.
“They destroyed party billboards and other items. We have reported the incident to the security agencies to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.
Odion stated that the party moved into the secretariat on January 17 and had hired local security to protect the property, stressing that the attackers had attempted to break in.
“This shows that the people cannot be silenced. We did not pay the residents who chased the attackers away. Security agencies must remain neutral and do the needful,” he added.
SP Eno Ikoedem, spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, confirmed the event, stating that suspected hoodlums attacked the party’s premises and damaged property.
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She added police officers were promptly dispatched to the location to maintain order.
“Preliminary assessment revealed malicious damage to party flags and two shattered windows in the premises. Security has since been deployed to forestall further attacks, while investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible,” Ikoedem said.
She also stated that the command appreciated the fast report to the control room, which helped prevent more harm.
“The command encourages members of the public to promptly report distress situations through its dedicated emergency lines and warns miscreants that anyone found culpable will face the full wrath of the law,” she said.
The state’s Obedient Movement recently formed a partnership with the ADC to boost the party’s structure and presence in Edo.
