Tension in Molete as Hoodlums Attack Accord Supporters During Rally, Woman Injured
Tension reportedly erupted in Molete, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday after suspected hoodlums allegedly attacked members of the Accord Party during a political procession, leaving a woman injured.
Information gathered by Goalpoacher News indicated that the incident triggered conflicting accounts, with allegations of stone and bottle throwing and disputed claims of an exchange of gunfire.
An update shared on the Goalpoacher News WhatsApp platform initially raised a security alert, stating that an exchange of gunfire was reportedly ongoing between supporters of two political parties in the area.
“Happening Now: Molete Red Hot On Fire. Gun exchanges presently ongoing between 2 Political Parties,” one of the messages read, while residents and commuters were advised to avoid the route temporarily.
However, the spokesperson for the Accord governorship candidate, Samuel Ibikunle, popularly known as Arugbo Boiz, denied that there was any fracas when he spoke with Segun Kehinde, Chief Executive Officer of Goalpoacher News.
According to Ibikunle, the Accord Party began its procession from the Bode area and encountered trouble upon reaching Molete, where he alleged that some hoodlums started throwing stones and bottles at party members in an attempt to intimidate them.
He said the Accord members, whom he described as law abiding, continued with the procession despite the alleged provocation and intimidation.
Ibikunle further alleged that the hoodlums persisted in their attack, resulting in a woman sustaining injuries. He said the woman was promptly taken to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention.
Speaking further, the Accord spokesperson said the party reported the development to the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, who he claimed responded swiftly by deploying additional security personnel to the area to ensure the safety of residents and political supporters.
He added that the procession would continue to its planned endpoint at Mapo.
When asked by Segun Kehinde to identify the political party allegedly behind the hoodlums, Ibikunle reportedly said the group was led by an individual known as “Star Boy.”
During the interview, Kehinde asked whether the reference was to the popular Nigerian musician Wizkid, but Ibikunle clarified that he was referring to an alleged gang leader known by that name.
The Accord spokesperson further alleged that the individual was associated with a political party, which he said could be either the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). However, he did not establish which party the alleged leader belonged to.
Meanwhile, security personnel from Operation Burst have reportedly arrived at the scene to maintain law and order and prevent further escalation of the situation.
The incident has generated conflicting accounts, as earlier messages circulated on the Goalpoachernews WhatsApp platform alleged that gunfire was exchanged between supporters of different political parties. Ibikunle, however, maintained that there was no fracas, attributing the incident to alleged attacks on Accord members.
As of the time of filing this report, Goalpoacher News had not independently verified the allegation of gunfire, the identity or political affiliation of the alleged gang leader, or the circumstances surrounding the woman’s injury. The response of the political parties mentioned in the allegation was also not available.
Residents and commuters were advised to exercise caution around Molete as security personnel worked to maintain peace and order.
