One person has been killed and five others injured following a violent attack on a political procession organised by supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Asaba, Delta State.
The incident occurred on Saturday along Nnebisi Road during a rally organised by the Obidient/OK Movement in support of the party’s presidential candidate.
The Delta State Police Command confirmed the casualty figures, saying it had launched an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the violence and apprehend those involved.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, disclosed that the command had received intelligence suggesting a possible outbreak of violence ahead of the procession.
According to him, the organisers were subsequently invited to a security meeting, where they were warned about the identified threats and advised against staging an open-road procession.
The police said the organisers were instead encouraged to hold their political gathering at a designated location where adequate security arrangements could be made.
However, the command alleged that the organisers disregarded the advice and proceeded with the road procession.
Police operatives were mobilised after a distress call was received at about 12:15pm. The injured victims were evacuated to hospitals for medical attention, while their identities were yet to be confirmed.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Samuel Erale, condemned the attack and urged political parties to prioritise security by notifying the police before organising rallies and other political activities.
Meanwhile, the NDC has accused armed hoodlums of launching a coordinated assault on its supporters during what it described as a peaceful One Million Man March.
In a statement issued by its media and publicity team, the party alleged that the attackers were armed with sticks, knives and machetes, leaving several participants injured.
It further claimed that dozens of campaign vehicles were vandalised, while some of its members sustained injuries from knife and machete attacks.
Rejecting any suggestion that the incident was a confrontation between rival groups, the party described the violence as a deliberate attempt to undermine democratic participation and intimidate its supporters.
The NDC called on Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to investigate the incident, identify the perpetrators and ensure they are brought to justice.
It also demanded adequate protection for political parties and their supporters as political activities gather momentum.
Despite the attack, the party appealed to its members to remain calm and resist any temptation to retaliate, insisting that its response would be through the ballot box.