Edo activist brutalised by vigilantes seeks justice

In Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State, armed vigilantes brutalized an activist, Okhai Okhani, the coordinator of Edo North Unity Worldwide, on Saturday.

According to a widely shared video on the internet, Okhani was attacked while he was hosting a stakeholders gathering for Edo North political office holders to give their scorecards.

The activist, who is in critical condition at an undisclosed state hospital, is urging the Edo State Government, the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Army, and the Directorate of State Services to look into the event, apprehend those responsible, and see that justice is done.

Over fifty uniformed armed vigilantes and thugs invaded the venue of a stakeholders' summit that he organized, damaging banners that local government areas in Edo North had put up to highlight their accomplishments, Okhani told reporters over the phone on Monday.

According to him, the occasion serves as a yearly platform for evaluating and honoring public servants who have contributed to the delivery of democratic dividends to their communities.

He claimed to have formally invited prominent politicians such as Hussein Mustapher, Anamero Sunday, Peter Akpatason, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, among others.

He further mentioned that Valentine Okuilagwe, the acting chairman of the Etsako West Local Government Council, had given him permission to utilize the space.

According to Okhani, just as the celebration was about to start, a vigilante assaulted and brutalized guests, destroying their phones and other belongings.

He claimed that political players in Edo North, who believed the assessment and honor were not in their favor, planned the attack.

"A group of thugs and vigilantes arrived on motorcycles just before the event started and, without warning, attacked participants, damaged equipment, and beat me to pulp," he said.

“I recognised some of the vigilante members. They descended on me and my colleagues, beat us up with matchets and clubs and even captured the violence on video.

“They threw me into their waiting Hilux vehicle where they continued to brutalise me with the butts of their rifles.

“They took me to the Auchi Area Command of the Nigeria Police where I was detained for over four hours without formal charges. They falsely claimed that my venue was not approved for the event. Yet the venue, a public event centre was officially approved.

“At the command, officers were worried by the critical condition and the police released me to my wife to seek medical treatment.”

Okhani described the incident as a politically motivated assault and expressed concern that local vigilante groups are now being used as tools of intimidation by powerful individuals in Edo North.

He added, “I am in pain. My ribs, my head ache badly. These men dragged me to an unknown location before deciding to hand me over to the Area Commander, ACP Lawrence Adjihu, and his deputy, CSP Albert Udeme.”

Calling for public support and prayers, he urged the state government to prevent further abuse of power by vigilante operatives while calling for those behind the attack to be brought to book.

The Edo State Police Public Relations officer, SP Moses Iyamu, said the command is aware and has commenced an investigation into the matter.

He said, “The command is aware of the incident and has commenced an investigation into the matter.”