There was a palpable tension in Bodija area of Ibadan yesterday after hoodlums suspected to be political thugs attacked the Bodija residence of a former deputy governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi, as state, local government and ward congresses of the Mohammed Abdulrahman faction of PDP got underway across the country.
The former deputy governor, Barr Gbolarumi belongs to the Wike’s PDP faction.
Chairman of the faction, Prof. Abdulrahman Akinoso, confirmed the attacks.
He said many vehicles were vandalised while about 10 people were injured.
He said people were attacked in Ibadan North, Ogbomoso North, Ibarapa Central and Akinyele local government areas.
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Prof Akinoso said: “Our local government congresses were attacked across Oyo state: Ibadan North, Ogbomoso South, Igboora (Ibarapa Central) Akinyele.
“Three vehicles were destroyed in Ibadan North. They also attacked Gbolarumi House at Aare Avenue Bodija.
“About 10 people have been injured in various attacks across the state.
“There may be a need to upgrade the damages. More than 25 vehicles have been reported damaged across various locations.
“The thugs are moving round the local governments, attacking individuals at home, damaging buildings and unleashing mayhem.”
Akinoso alleged that thugs were moving round to unleash terror on the people.
A video posted on Facebook showed about two dozens of men throwing stones, bottles and sticks into a compound believed to be Gbolarumi’s.
Several vehicles parked in the compound were vandalised.
Gbolarumi told the Nation correspondent on the phone that the suspected thugs came in about 15 buses, adding that some of them were known members of the state Park Management System (PMS).
He said property estimated at N250 million were damaged by the thugs.
Gbolarunmi said: “It’s true that my house was attacked by some political thugs.”
He accused Governor Makinde Media reports flying around on social media as true. He blamed Governor Seyi Makinde for the attack.
He said: “About eight vehicles were damaged in my compound. Some vehicles outside were also damaged beyond repairs.
“They were shooting sporadically. Our boys would have caught them but for the fact that they were shooting.
“What I felt happened was that we held our local government congresses across the state today, following a directive from the national body of our party.
“As you know that we are the authentic PDP known and validated by the court and their own PDP is not recognised by both court and INEC.
“The governor sent the Park Management System group (Motor park boys) to attack us because we do not support his faction of PDP.
“We have reported the case to the Oyo State Commissioner of Police. The Director of DSS has visited through his men who conducted an on the spot assessment of the situation.
“They even took pictures and made videos, though we are yet to be informed that anyone has been arrested in connection with the attacks.”
