Benin City was thrown into chaos on Tuesday as armed thugs stormed the Edo State PDP Secretariat on Airport Road, sending traders and shop owners fleeing for safety.
Witnesses report that the attackers, led by a man identified as Kapuepue, the younger brother of APC Youth Leader Tony Kabaka, arrived chanting war songs and firing sporadically into the air. They destroyed banners and billboards outside the building before overpowering security guards and forcing their way inside.
The gang reportedly assaulted staff members, stole valuables, and vandalized property. Inside the secretariat, they smashed doors and windows, ransacked offices, and carted away computers, printers, and large bags filled with files and documents.
Henry Duke Tenebe, the newly sworn-in Secretary of the PDP State Caretaker Committee, was trapped inside his office during the attack.
“They said PDP is dead, so nobody should come here again or they will kill us next time,” said Ruth, an administrative officer at the secretariat. “They came looking for original copies of our election petition evidence, but they didn’t find any. All they took were photocopies and other documents.”
The attack comes amidst a contentious legal battle over the results of the September 21 gubernatorial election. PDP leaders have accused the APC of orchestrating the violence to intimidate opponents and disrupt the party’s challenge at the election tribunal.
Andrew Enantomhen, a PDP youth leader, called the attack a desperate move by APC supporters. “They have temporarily stolen our mandate and are now trying to cover their tracks. Why are they looking for documents? The case has already been filed in court. Justice will be served in Edo State,” he said.
He also issued a direct challenge to law enforcement: “Kapuepue is not above the law. We all saw the viral video of him brandishing a gun on this same Airport Road when a policeman was shot. Now he’s leading thugs to attack the PDP in broad daylight? The Inspector General of Police must act and bring this criminal to justice.”
Enantomhen also urged the police to restore order, warning that the party’s supporters may be forced to defend themselves if the violence continues.
The attack on the PDP Secretariat has raised concerns about escalating political violence in Edo State. Observers warn that such incidents could undermine the credibility of the state’s democratic processes and exacerbate tensions between rival parties.
Reacting to the incident, the Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Chris Osa Nehikhare, said, “It is quite disappointing and unfortunate that the APC, on Thursday, mobilised thugs to attack our party Secretariat in their desperation to frustrate and halt efforts by our great party to reclaim the mandate duly given to it by the Edo people at the September 21 governorship election.
“If the APC are confident that they won the election free and square and have nothing to hide, why are they jittery and mobilising thugs to attack the PDP Secretariat?”
“The PDP remains resolute and will not be intimidated or deterred in its pursuit for justice and the restoration of our mandate.”
As calm returned to Airport Road by nightfall, the damaged billboards and shattered windows at the secretariat remained stark reminders of the day’s violence, and an ominous harbinger of further violence, ahead of the commencement of the Edo Governorship election petition tribunal.
