A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata, has recounted how he and Peter Obi narrowly escaped an attack in Benin City, Edo State, following intelligence reports warning that the venue of their political event could be targeted.
Akpata, a former governorship candidate of the Labour Party (Nigeria), spoke on Politics Today on Wednesday, just a day after chieftains of the African Democratic Congress were attacked in the state.
“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. “Thankfully, thanks to the efforts of some security personnel, what could have been a very dastardly event was averted.”
He explained that members of the Labour Party had gathered at the ADC secretariat on Ogbelaka Street for a formal defection ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m.
“As the programme progressed, intelligence from reliable sources indicated that the venue was about to be attacked,” Akpata said. “I received that information separately. Mr. Obi received it too. We were advised to speed up the event to avert what could have been a crisis.”
Describing the venue as a confined and risky environment, he said, “It’s a very tight, narrow building, and even a stampede would have been dangerous. The street is densely populated.”
The organisers hurriedly wrapped up the programme and moved party leaders to a safer location. “We told them to come to Chief Oyegun’s house, where we would address the press,” he said, referring to the residence of John Odigie-Oyegun. “This was a decision taken on the fly because things had changed. We didn’t have time for any press briefing. Anything could have happened.”
Akpata disclosed that shortly after leaving the secretariat, armed men reportedly stormed the area and attacked the venue.
