VIDEO: Sporadic shootings as thugs attack NDC supporters in Enugu

There was outrage on Saturday in Enugu State when some suspected political thugs attacked supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the state.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the attack began earlier on Saturday when some NDC supporters attempted to gather at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Emene, but were dispersed by the hoodlums.

The supporters were at the airport to welcome the NDC governorship candidate in Enugu State, Chinyeaka Ohaa, when the incident happened.

Mr Ohaa landed at the airport ahead of the NDC’s governorship campaign flag-off on Saturday.

Video clips obtained by this newspaper showed several NDC supporters scampering for safety amid sporadic shootings by the attackers.

In one of the clips, a suspected thug was spotted hitting an NDC supporter with a plank, injuring him in front of Air Force Base near the airport in Enugu State.

The clip showed a man in army uniform standing near the suspected thug, but he did nothing to stop the attack.

Shortly before the thug attacked the victim, some NDC supporters were heard beckoning to the man in army uniform that another thug had surfaced, but he appeared unconcerned.

“Come up a bit, let’s know how we can take you to the hospital,” one of the supporters urged the injured victim, whose head was already gushing blood.

Some NDC supporters were heard in another clip lamenting that their vehicles were damaged by the attackers.

PREMIUM TIMES obtained a video clip showing vehicles with damaged windscreens.

Some NDC supporters were heard accusing police and army personnel of complicity in the attacks. But this newspaper could not independently verify the claims.

From Airport to NDC secretariat 

When the NDC supporters finally gathered at the party’s secretariat in Enugu for the campaign flag off, the suspected thugs also attacked them at the venue.

“Stay where you are,” some party leaders were heard advising the frightened supporters as gunshots rent the air.

PREMIUM TIMES also obtained another video clip showing some supporters running out of the venue in confusion.

The clip showed some police operatives shooting at those believed to be the political thugs near the NDC secretariat while supporters scampered for safety.

“You people did it at the airport, we kept quiet, now we are starting it again here in our party office,” an angry NDC member was heard lamenting in a separate clip. 

At the NDC secretariat, venue of the campaign flag-off, some scattered chairs and disorganised canopies bore signs of a disrupted political gathering.

Police silent

When contacted, the police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, requested to be reached via WhatsApp.

But Mr Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, had not responded to an enquiry forwarded to him on WhatsApp as of the time of filing this report.

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Not the first time 

This is not the first time suspected political thugs have attacked NDC supporters and those of other parties in Enugu State.

On 12 September, for instance, some hoodlums attacked and disrupted an NDC meeting in Ndiuno-Obuoffia Community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state.

Within the same period, suspected thugs carried out another attack at St. Joseph Primary School in Agbani within the same council area where hoodlums also destroyed canopies and chairs meant for a Peoples Democratic Party’s rally.

The police in Enugu State later ordered an investigation into the attacks.