Wilson Adekumola
The Lagos State Police Command, has dispelled the reports of an attack on supporters of the Labour Party at Epe, Lagos, saying he is yet to see any empirical evidence to substantiate the claim.
The Sun reported that a former commissioner during the immediate past administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Olawale Oluwo, had claimed that he escaped unhurt when he was reportedly shot during the campaign walk of Labour Party governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, in the Epe Local Government Area of the state.
Oluwo, the candidate of the Boot Party for the March 18 governorship election, has recently merged with the LP.
In an interview on Arise Television and in his Twitter handle on Saturday, the LP goverorship candidate in the state, Gbgadebo Rhodes-Vivour, also confirmed the attack.
Confirming the inciden, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said he got the report on Sunday and investigations revealed that there was no empirical evidence to show any such attack.
Hundeyin said the Divisional Police Officer of Epe Division visited the scene for the spot investigation, but there was no indication of an attack.
He said, “The police are not saying they are lying, but like the build up to the presidential and national assembly we saw videos of attacks and those who had been injured on social media. “There was no such evidence when the police visited the scene. We are yet to see anyone come up to say that he or she was injured in the attack. So, for now, there is no evidence to show for any such attack.”
Taking to his verified Facebook page on Saturday, Oluwo said the attack occured at the Ita Opo area of Lagos during the campaign rally of LP.
He said despite the attack, they successful carried out the parade.
He said, “This is to thank everyone for achieving a successful outing in Epe today, save for the actions of a few misguided elements suspected to have been sponsored from the most unexpected quarters, to perpetrate tension and violence.
“Hon Noheem Balogun and I were shot point blank, today, at the Ita-Opo area of Epe while leading a campaign procession of the incoming governor of Lagos State (by the special grace of God), Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
“Gbadebo was present, being the overall team leader for the procession. Thank God the bullets missed the targets, but my special gratitude goes to my security orderly, who promptly returned fire to repel the two assailants. A report is being lodged with the police on the incident. Overall, we were well received by the good people of Epe in their large numbers. Hon Noheem Balogun is the PDP House of Reps candidate for Epe Federal Constituency, who has collapsed his large political structure in Epe into the Labour Party (LP).
“He has the support of the leaders, assembly candidates, relevant stakeholders and our teeming supporters to lead the political onslaught of LP in Epe, in the capacity of a generalissimo. This is already giving some people sleepless nights, hence, the attack. I thank him for his commitment and leadership. Epe is my community and no person(s), no matter how powerful, can prevent us from exercising our rights to political participation,” he wrote.
