By Emamuzo Iboma
On Saturday at the Pro-Tinubu Mega Rally in Igbogene, Yenagoa, five armed assailants opened fire on attendees, causing panic and injuries. The rally, organized by the NEW Associates—a grassroots political group supporting President Bola Tinubu and affiliated with the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike—was intended to rally support for the ruling party.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene in which gunmen emerged from the nearby forest and opened fire on the crowd. Attendees scrambled for safety, resulting in a stampede with numerous injuries. Several dignitaries were present at the stage area, which is where the gunmen reportedly targeted.
“People were running in all directions; it was terrifying. I saw several people hit the ground and others trying to help them,” said one attendee who requested to remain anonymous.
Local security and law enforcement personnel acted swiftly to address the situation. When a team of police officers and Department of State Services (DSS) agents arrived on the scene, they were able to apprehend the attackers and bring some measure of order back. Following the attack, the attackers fled into the thick undergrowth, and the authorities have since begun a manhunt for them.
Following the incident, a number of injured people were taken to local hospitals for medical attention. Although the majority of the injuries were not life-threatening, local medical personnel voiced concern about the event’s psychological effects on witnesses.
The rally had attracted a sizable crowd before the attack, with the goal of bolstering local support for the current administration. Calling the violence an attack on democracy and a betrayal of the peaceful political engagement anticipated during campaigning, community leaders have denounced it.
“I am appalled that something like this could happen in our community. We must stand together against such acts of violence during our political processes,” said a local leader who had attended the rally,the secretary of the NEW Associates, Ebilade Ekerefe declared that they would not be initimidated to back down from their support for President Tinubu to go for another term in office.
Authorities encourage anyone with information regarding the whereabouts or motivations of the gunmen to come forward as they conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Officials advise residents to stay alert and report any suspicious activity while the community deals with the shock of the attack.
In order to protect attendees and stop such violence from happening again, security will be increased at future political gatherings.
The organizers, on the other hand, have vowed to continue with the programme.
