The emerging trend of political thuggery and violence surrounding the 2027 general elections campaigns across several States, are triggering serious concern among the citinery.
Since the campaigns commenced on August 19, several attacks linked to political thugs have been recorded in Kogi, Benue, Kano, Enugu, Kaduna, Delta, Rivers and other States.
Some of the incidents exhibit party leaders and supporters injured, raising concerns about the safety of political actors and creating fear among citizens who may wish to openly support their preferred candidates as the elections draw closer.
Even as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has also alleged attacks on its members and supporters, a significant number of reported incidents have targeted members and supporters of opposition parties.
Majority of the attacks were allegedly targeted at members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Political thugs allegedly sponsored by the ruling APC on September 15, disrupted a meeting organised by the ADC in Ejule, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, sending party members and supporters fleeing for safety.
Reports, disclosed that the incident occurred during the meeting when the suspected attackers allegedly fired several shots into the air, sparking panic among the participants and residents of the area.
At least, one member of the ADC was seriously injured during the incident and was immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
The ugly development raised fresh concerns about the security situation in Ofu LGA, as there is a history of politically motivated violence, particularly during election periods in the area.
In 2019, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Women Leader in Kogi State, Salome Abuh, was reportedly burnt to death in her home in the same LGA during the period of the governorship election.
The motorcade of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on September 8, came under attack by suspected thugs who reportedly blocked the road in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, preventing him from gaining access to the State during his humanitarian outreach to Yelwata.
More than 10 supporters of the NDC candidate sustained injuries and were hospitalised at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, following the incident.
While the opposition party accused government officials of sponsoring the thugs, the Benue State Government denied the allegation.
Barely 24 hours after the incident, the Benue State Police Command paraded 46 suspects in connection with the attack.
During the parade, the Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, warned that the police in Benue State “will not allow any act of political intolerance” as the general election approached.
Some police officers and journalists covering an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Kano State were on September 5, gruesomely attacked by suspected political thugs.
They were attacked behind the City Campus of North West University, Kofar Nassarawa, while on their way back to their office after the programme.
The attackers reportedly smashed a Radio Nigeria official vehicle conveying the journalists and damaged its rear glass, as captured in a viral video.
The APC had earlier held the Tinubu Support Group rally at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, where it received some chieftains from opposition parties before the incident occurred.
The attack was carried out a week after a teenager, Yusuf Ahmad, was gruesomely killed in a suspected reprisal attack by street thugs in the Konannen Gidan Mai area of Dorayi Quarters, Gwale Local Government Area of the State.
Yusuf was allegedly attacked while returning home after attending a Maulud gathering in Unguwar Bello, with the incident said to have been linked to an earlier clash involving another youth in a neighbouring community.
A few days ago, suspected thugs allegedly disrupted a campaign rally involving supporters of the Nigerian Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Warri, Delta State.
The incident was brought to public attention by Esther Umoh, identified as a photographer associated with Obi, who alleged in a post on X that politically sponsored thugs had attacked members of the campaign group.
Umoh alleged that the attackers targeted members of the entourage of the Delta State governorship candidate, as well as other supporters of the Obidient and Kwankwasiya movements who were campaigning in the area.
Wrote she: “As of this morning, politically sponsored thugs reportedly opened fire on @MamaPee__, @Drmopaul, @dchrisiyovwaye, the Delta State governorship candidate, members of his entourage, and other Obidient and Kwankwasiya supporters who were out campaigning in Warri”.
A video circulated alongside the claims also shows a chaotic scene, with a voice heard saying, “Look at the thugs, they came to attack us. We must face them. We are fully ready for them”.
ADC members who turned out to receive the party’s governorship candidate in Kaduna State, last week, Isa Mohammed Ashiru, following his return from a two-week Lesser Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, were attacked by political thugs.
Reports indicate that several vehicles belonging to ADC members and supporters were vandalised by suspected APC political thugs.
The opposition party alleged that after carrying out the attack, the armed thugs were seen entering the Kaduna State Secretariat of the Renewed Hope Movement, raising fresh concerns over the safety of lives during the January and February general elections.
There has been rising tension in parts of Rivers State, particularly in Ikwerre and Emohua Local Government Areas, following reported clashes among ADC, NDC and APC supporters.
The ADC recently raised alarm over an alleged attack on its members and a candidate during a consultation in Ikwerre.
A viral video from the incident shows some party members reportedly injured, with blood stains visible on their clothes.
Similarly, on September 9, suspected political thugs reportedly invaded the secretariat of the NDC in Emohua Local Government Area, destroying billboards, banners and other campaign materials belonging to the party.
Both the PDP, and the NDC have reported attacks on their members in different parts of Enugu State.
In some of the videos in circulation, canopies and chairs set up for rallies can be seen destroyed, with accompanying voices blaming the ruling APC.
Several people were days ago reportedly injured by gunfire during one of the attacks on NDC members. Some of the victims were still hospitalised as at press time.
The series of attacks have heightened concerns across the country over the potential level of violence that could be witnessed before, during and after the forth-coming general elections.
Speaking, a security expert, Donatus Igi, urged security agencies to urgently curb the trend ahead of the election, warning that political thuggery could undermine the conduct of the polls.
He cited the alleged killing of party members and supporters during the build-up to the Osun State governorship election, where over 40 persons were reportedly killed by thugs.
Said Igi: “Political violence has always been a part of our elections, but I think we are having the worst of it these days. The campaign has not even started properly, and many people are being attacked already. This is not democracy.
“Unfortunately, some of our security agencies are compromised. Look at what happened in Osun State recently. Several innocent people were killed, and the police and other agencies were just watching. On different occasions, the governor cried out that the police were biased, but many took it to be a joke. We saw what happened at the end.
“If they don’t stop this nonsense before 2027, there is going to be a serious problem. Election should not be a do-or-die affair.
“All candidates should stop making provocative utterances that can trigger unrest. You can’t say you want to win an election to bring development and you are here encouraging people to take the lives of the people you want to protect.
“When a candidate makes any speech that is capable of causing problems, the DSS should invite or pick him or her. When you do it to one or two people, others will learn.
“And it is very unfortunate that the youths who are the major recipients of bad governance are the ones being used as thugs. Don’t they think? The person who is giving you N5,000 to go and attack another person, where are his children? Why can’t he send his own children?
“We all have a role to play in this. While the security agencies are doing their job, the parents should also talk to their children to stay away from violence”.
On his part, Nigerian businessman Isaac Fayose urged supporters of opposition parties to continue to resist attacks and remain united against what he described as oppression.
Stated he: “If we can all come out to say enough is enough, they will stop. Delta people did it. We are going to Benue, Kaduna and other places, and we expect them to emulate the Delta people by resisting the attackers.
“The only way to get our country back is to face these people. Obidients in Delta have established that the State belongs to NDC. Next time, the thugs will be careful”.
