Breaking : Vena Ikem, APC members attacked in Obudu

Barr. Venatius Ikem with his supporters during his official Governorship declaration in Obudu today

There was pandemonium in Obudu, the home local government of Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State as hoodlums suspected to be loyalists of the Governor attacked a governorship aspirant of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, Barr. Venatius Ikem and supporters during his official declaration.

Ikem, a former Special Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo is a kinsman of the governor.

Crisis erupted when unknown thugs stormed the APC secretariat vandalizing the building, his build boards and chasing away his supporters who were waiting for the declaration to commence.

Ikem, determined to proceed with the event, then led his supporters on foot to the secretariat and while he was preparing to address them, a large group of thugs descended on the secretariat and beating up APC members randomly.

As our reporter who stood a safe distance watched, the thugs beat up people, with stones, sticks, bottles and machetes, while breaking the windows of the building. They went ahead to enter the secretariat building, where Ikem had retreated into and attacked anyone in sight.

When some of them noticed journalists trying to take pictures and record the incident, they gave them a chase to attack them, but they were lucky to escape from the scene unhurt.

During the crisis which caused serious tension in Obudu, no security official showed up to calm the situation.

Earlier, two young men who were driving a flying motorcycle  shot at a Toyota picnic vehicle which carry some of Ikem's supporters on his convoy. Although the window class of the vehicle at the passenger's side was destroyed no casualty was recorded.

Speaking to Journalists, Abi local government area APC Chapter chairman Romanus Egbonyi who was in Obudu for the function and sustained a deep gash in his left arm said it was unfair for the party, which is law abiding to be treated the way it was.

According to him, “I want to say that this would not deter us at all. We all came here to witness the formal declaration of Barr Venatius Ikem, and got attacked as you have all just witnessed. Our party is one that would provide a level playing ground for all aspirants. If the powers that be in the state are confident of themselves, why do they have to descend so low to attack us physically in our own premises here in Obudu?”