Edo activist brutalised by vigilantes seeks justice

An activist, Okhai Okhani, the coordinator of Edo North Unity Worldwide, was on Saturday brutalised after he was assaulted by armed vigilantes in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State.

As seen in a viral online video, Okhani was attacked at the venue of a stakeholders summit he organised for political office holders in Edo North to present their scorecards.

The activist, currently in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital in the state, is calling on the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army, Directorate of State Services, and the Edo State Government to investigate the incident, arrest the perpetrators, and ensure justice is served.

Narrating his ordeal to newsmen via telephone on Monday, Okhani said over 50 uniformed armed vigilantes and thugs stormed the venue of a stakeholders’ summit he organised destroying banners by local government areas in Edo North to showcase their achievements.

The event, according to him, is an annual forum to assess and honour public office holders who had positively impacted their constituencies in delivering dividends of democracy.

He stated that he had sent out official invitations to notable political figures including Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Peter Akpatason, Anamero Sunday, and Hussein Mustapher, and several others.

He added that he got approval from the acting Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Council, Valentine Okuilagwe, to use the venue.

Okhani said the event was about to begin when vigilante attacked and brutalised guests, destroyed their valuables, including phones.

He alleged that the attack was orchestrated by political actors in Edo North, who felt the assessment and honoir was not in their favour.

He said, “Shortly before the event commenced, a group of vigilantes and thugs arrived on motorcycles and without any provocation, assaulted participants, damaging equipment, and beating me to pulp.

“I recognised some of the vigilante members. They descended on me and my colleagues, beat us up with matchets and clubs and even captured the violence on video.

“They threw me into their waiting Hilux vehicle where they continued to brutalise me with the butts of their rifles.

“They took me to the Auchi Area Command of the Nigeria Police where I was detained for over four hours without formal charges. They falsely claimed that my venue was not approved for the event. Yet the venue, a public event centre was officially approved.

“At the command, officers were worried by the critical condition and the police released me to my wife to seek medical treatment.”

Okhani described the incident as a politically motivated assault and expressed concern that local vigilante groups are now being used as tools of intimidation by powerful individuals in Edo North.

He added, “I am in pain. My ribs, my head ache badly. These men dragged me to an unknown location before deciding to hand me over to the Area Commander, ACP Lawrence Adjihu, and his deputy, CSP Albert Udeme.”

Calling for public support and prayers, he urged the state government to prevent further abuse of power by vigilante operatives while calling for those behind the attack to be brought to book.

The Edo State Police Public Relations officer, SP Moses Iyamu, said the command is aware and has commenced an investigation into the matter.

He said, “The command is aware of the incident and has commenced an investigation into the matter.”

Source: Punch