There was pandemonium in the Oshodi area of Lagos State on Wednesday night, 4th December, 2019, as political thugs set a house ablaze while shooting sporadically into the air leaving one person dead.
It was gathered that the now ravaged house was owned by Douglas Nosayaba Edobor, a popular social-political activist, whose property was destroyed by the political thugs who are known members of the ruling All Progressive congress in Lagos state due to contrary political views and opinions.
A resident who craved anonymity said these thugs came in their large numbers armed with guns and other dangerous weapons.
The resident said suddenly the thugs were shooting sporadically and one of our neighbours was hit and died on the spot.
“When they didn’t find Mr. Edobor at home, the thugs decided to set his house on fire and were chanting words like “Edobor must die”, “Edobor will know that politics is not for children”, “Anywhere we find Edobor, we’ll kill him”, “he has no place to hide” and many other threatening words.”
Reacting, the victim of the incident, Douglas Nosayaba Edobor, who spoke to our Reporter via mobile phone from an unknown location said he was in hiding with his family, running for his life and totally devastated by the incident.
Edobor, who is also a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party narrated how the incident transpired and said he has lost everything and can no longer walk freely because of the death threats by these political thugs.
“These thugs first came to my private business premises on the 30th of November, 2019 to collect illegal levies from business owners and shops in the locality. I refused paying because these levies were illegal and receipt are not issued when you pay. Other business owners who saw my courage also refused to pay which infuriated the hoodlums and they left with the promise to deal with me because they know fully well that I am a member of the PDP and a social activist in area.”
He said, “I’m shaking, this is not the Nigerian democracy our heroes past envisaged, political thugs of the All Peoples Congress (APC) are after me and my family, they want to kill me because of my views and opinion. I received a devastating call from my neighbor at about 8pm on 4th 0f December 2019 who informed me that my house had been set ablaze. I was extremely worried that my wife and child were at home. I was informed that the act was carried out by some group of persons who are known political thugs armed with guns and machetes. It was said that they came asking of me and shot sporadically into the air and from what I was told, one person died in the process with some others injured”.
“I thank God that my wife and child were not at home at the time if not, they would have been killed. I met up with my wife and my infant daughter at a secure location where we spent the night, we had lost everything because of my political views and involvements. With the current state of things, it has become clear to me that we were no longer safe in Lagos State”.
“So, I decided to move my family to somewhere safe outside Lagos after selling all my belongings in my business premises.”
Edobor stated further that, “Unfortunately, moving out of Lagos proved to be worse, as there is high rate of kidnapping, political thuggery and banditry where I’m hiding. It’s unsafe to go out as we live in constant fear of attack.
“Barely a week after I arrived in my secret location, I have been receiving phone calls from unknown persons threatening to find me wherever I am and kill me and my family.
“I have lodged complaint to the police and the officers promised to investigate the matter, but nothing has come out of it and threats to my life have not stop”.
Edobor added that, “I was almost abducted at a bus stop on the 10th of February 2020 in Benin city where I took refuge but my struggle and shout for help made those abductors run away. This has made it clear that nowhere is safe for me as it is obvious that I am a target and these persons are trailing me. I have been advised by family and friends to move out of Nigeria because according to sources, no matter where I am within Nigeria, I would be traced. I have resorted to selling my family long-term assets to raise money so my family and I can leave the Country. I am calling on the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to come to my aid as I am now living in perpetual fear for my life. These persons are bent on punishing or possibly kill me.”
Meanwhile, it was gathered that Douglas Nosayaba Edobor was earlier attacked along Oregun Road in Ikeja, Lagos on April 9th 2015 just before the general elections when some political thugs who are believed to be members of the APC set his car on fire while he was still inside the car. He was left to die in the inferno but with the help of good Nigerians, he was rescued and taken to County Hospital in Lagos with various degree of injuries. No arrest made in that attack.
As at the time of filing this report, all efforts to reach the Oshodi Police station for comments proved abortive and it was gathered that no arrest has been made.
Reacting, an official of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos state decried the incessant attack on members of the opposition party in the state and called on security agencies to live up to their duties to make Lagos safe for all irrespective of political affiliations.
According to him, there are reckless killings and destruction of properties all in the bid to silence the opposition in the state. He called on the Nigerian Police to bring those perpetrators to book.
The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in the state Chief Adedeji Doherty could not be reached for comment as he was said to be away on an official engagement.
In Nigeria, experts have asserted that political assassinations, godfatherism and thuggery are the bane of the country’s democracy, some politicians engage some unemployed youths as thugs to cause mayhem and intimidate oppositions, political and human rights activists before, during and after elections.
This wanton killing and destruction of properties is ultimately a function of degraded state capacity, mistrust of law enforcement, and erosion of the rule of law. The immediate restoration of law and order is urgently needed in the nation called Nigeria.
The African Union and partners such as the United States and the European Union should combine efforts to help Nigeria overcome what increasingly looks like a challenge to its very existence as a nation.
The Nigerian government could begin to build trust by showing a willingness to open the state to reform. Any such actions should be followed by long-term interventions led by local civil society organizations to rebuild these institutions.
