Edo commissioner, policeman, others injured as APC congress turns bloody

By OLALEKAN BADMOS
The Edo state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Chris Okaebean, and a police officer were among fifteen people injured as a rescheduled All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress took a bloody dimension in the state on Saturday.

Also, a woman and a number of children got wounded in the ensuing violence .

Due to similar experiences, the party had rescheduled the ward congress in Edo South Senatorial District of the state for Saturday.

But, the exercise witnessed fracas within the premises of Emokpae and Payne Primary Schools at Oredo wards 4 and 7.

Two of the injured persons were inflicted with deep machete cuts on their heads.

While confirming the incident to journalists, the commissioner alleged that he was attacked at ward 7 by angry youths who also vandalized his vehicle, adding that the hoodlum resorted to assault and vandalism of people's properties after their principal lost in the said election.

About 25 vehicles as well as borehole, doors, windows and other properties, were allegedly destroyed at the two wards.

Also, the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who witnessed part of the crisis that greeted the exercise, has ordered the arrest of three persons allegedly caught with arms, ammunition and fake membership cards of the APC at George Idah memorial primary school.

Troubled was said to have started when thugs suspected to be loyal to one of the aspirants for the 2016 governorship election in the state, stormed the venue to disrupt the exercise, attacked the supporters of a fellow aspirant.

The hoodlums who were chased out by the supporters of the other aspirant, went haywire as they unleashed mayhem on the people of the streets.

The matter has been reported to the New Benin divisional police headquarters.

A principal lecturer at Edo State owned Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), Benin City, Uhunmwangho Asonmworiri, also got his Toyota Camry destroyed.

Asonmworiri, who said he is not a member of any political party, wondered why they left the venue of the congress to damage his car.

The exercise was however peaceful in other wards monitored at Ikpoba Okha local government area.