Fire for Fire: Violence erupts in Ibadan as ACN, AP supporters Clash

At least 30 people were yesterday injured in Ibadan, Oyo State, when supporters of Accord Party, AP, and those of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, clashed in the state capital.

Reports said some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the ACN disrupted a rally organised by the AP in the state. The rally was led by a former governor in the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, to welcome defecting members from the ACN and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the AP.

National Mirror gathered that tents and canopies erected for the purpose at Olomi area of the city, were burnt while vehicles belonging to the AP, chairs and other instruments were allegedly vandalised.

Tent and chairs set by Accord Party destroyed during the violence.

Speaking with journalists later, Dr. Ibrahim Olaifa, a member representing Oluyole Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said not less than 30 members of the party were injured.

He alleged that it was the governor through the leadership of the NURTW in the state, Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde aka ‘Fele’ that initiated the attack. Olaifa condemned the incident, saying it was regrettable that the state had returned to its violent political era.

The car belonging to Mr. Laide Oyelude, of the Daily Newswatch , was also vandalised when the hoodlums were hurling stones at the security agencies who ensured that peace reigned while the number plates of some of the vehicles damaged are OYO EGB 138 AA and CK 570 KTU.

It took the intervention of security agents, who fired warning shots to disperse the hoodlums who had assembled again. Tear gas cannisters were fired to scare away the hoodlums who were saying there was no way the rally would hold and stayed very close to the Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC stationed there.

When contacted on the development, the state Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Hon. Dauda Kolawole, denied the involvement of the party’s members in the crisis.

He said members of the ACN in the state are peace loving and will never do anything to tarnish the image of the ruling party in the state, stating that ‘our members are not vandals.