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Olumide Akpata, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, has detailed how he and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi escaped an attack at a political gathering in Benin City, Edo State.
Akpata said both men separately received intelligence reports warning that the venue of their event would “very soon come under attack,” prompting organisers to abruptly end the programme and leave the area.
“I was in harm’s way, there’s no doubt. I was alongside other people. We were in harm’s way yesterday in Benin,” Akpata said on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.
“Thankfully, due to the efforts of some of the security personnel who were there, I think what could have been a very dastardly event was averted yesterday.”
The event, held at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secretariat on Ogbelaka Street, was organised for members of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo State who were moving into the ADC. The ceremony had been scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
According to Akpata, as the programme progressed, he and Obi received alerts from a reliable source.
“We got information as the event proceeded from sources that are usually reliable that the venue would very soon come under attack from some unknown persons.
“I received that information separately. Mr. Obi received that information… and we were advised to speed up the event… to avert what those persons thought would be a crisis.” he said.
The secretariat is “a very tight building, narrow building, and even a stampede would be dangerous,” according to Akpata, who also mentioned how “densely populated” the street is.
He said organisers quickly wrapped up the event and decided to relocate to another venue to address the media.
“We told them that, listen, because of this development, come to Chief Oyegun’s house. We would address the press there.
“This was a decision taken on the fly because… things had changed. We didn’t have time to do any press [briefing]. Anything could have happened,” he said.
He claimed that armed men stormed the secretariat shortly after they left.
“We started getting calls that as soon as we left the secretariat on Ogbelaka Street, some guys actually showed up and attacked the venue, attacked people,” Akpata said, noting that his cousin narrowly escaped being struck by a bullet.
The Edo State Government has called for an investigation into the incident.
Governor Monday Okpebholo condemned the attack and said those responsible would be brought to book.
