By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
IT was a scene of chaos and fear on Tuesday as gunmen stormed the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun in a brazen assassination attempt that narrowly missed former presidential candidate Peter Obi and other top political figures.
The attack, which unfolded in two phases, has sent shockwaves through the political landscape.
Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, was at Oyegun’s home in Benin City for a meeting alongside former NBA President Olumide Akpata, ex-Governor Oserheimen Osunbor, and other dignitaries when the peace was shattered by the roar of gunfire.
According to eyewitness reports, the violence began at the ADC State Secretariat on Ogbelaka Street.
A gang of thugs, arriving in an unmarked Sienna bus and on a motorcycle, opened fire, destroying furniture, canopies, and banners while injuring several party members.
Having sown chaos there, the assailants reloaded and headed straight for Oyegun’s residence.
As the political heavyweights met inside, suspected attackers laid siege to the property, firing sporadically and smashing vehicles parked at the gate.
The message was clear: this was not random violence, but a targeted strike.
Speaking to Stonix News moments after the ordeal, a visibly shaken Obi issued a stark warning to the authorities.
“It is time to speak up. It is time those in government act. They are not going to be there forever. What they are allowing to happen in this country today will take its revenge on all of us,” Obi said.
Odigie-Oyegun, a former National Chairman of the APC and current ADC leader, revealed that the attack was preceded by a chilling intelligence report.
He disclosed that security agencies had warned them to cut their meeting short at the secretariat—a warning that likely saved their lives.
“We were just barely lucky to have left there in time because thereafter, all hell broke loose,” Oyegun told journalists.
“People arrived here in about 10 vehicles, shooting all over the place. The question is clear: between the intelligence coming in and us finishing the meeting, where was the security?”
Oyegun did not hide his fury at the state government, referencing earlier threats made against Obi regarding his visit to Edo.
He questioned how attackers could move freely, destroy property, and target his guests in a state where he once served as governor.
“When did we degenerate to this level? The first duty of any government is to protect us. They are playing with fire, and the consequences could be terrible—much more than any of you expect,” he warned.
As political tension spirals, the Edo State Police Command confirmed the attack. Spokesperson ASP Eno Ikoedem stated that officers responded swiftly to a distress call, forcing the hoodlums to flee.
While no casualties were officially recorded, the psychological wounds are deep.
“The situation remains under control while investigations are ongoing,” Ikoedem said.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Emperor Jarret Tenebe, has distanced his party from the bloodshed, dismissing it as an internal feud within the ADC. “Did the attackers wear APC uniform? They should not drag us into their fight,” he quipped.
But for the victims who cheated death, the bullets that flew in Benin City were aimed at more than just politicians—they were aimed at the very fabric of Nigeria’s democracy.
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