Panic engulfed Ofosun Village, a border community between Ondo and Edo States, on Saturday as unidentified individuals fired sporadic gunshots.
The alarming incident created widespread fear, prompting residents to remain indoors for safety.
A local source, Dauda, told Punch in a phone interview, “We don’t know who these people are, but they’ve been shooting into the air in parts of the village since early morning. Ofosun is an Ondo village close to Benin in Edo State. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported, but people are afraid to step outside.”
The motive behind the gunfire remains unclear. However, Festus Akingbaso, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy Governorship candidate, raised concerns about the alleged presence of hoodlums in several villages within Idanre Local Government Area.
After casting his vote at Imikan Ward 02, Unit 008, Idanre, Akingbaso commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring a smooth voting process but accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of infiltrating communities with thugs.
“Reports reaching me indicate that villages like Ofosun, Omifunfun, and Allah are now overrun by thugs allegedly brought in by the APC,” Akingbaso alleged. “In Igbepo, suspected thugs are present in large numbers. In Ofosun, they broke into a party member’s house to stop him from voting. There are plans to prevent villagers from voting altogether. I have reported this to the DPO and DSS, but so far, security agencies have not acted.”
Responding to the allegations, Ondo APC spokesperson, Steve Otaloro, dismissed the claims as baseless and called for a thorough investigation.
“I am currently in the APC situation room,” Otaloro stated. “First, let me clarify that the person making these allegations is the deputy governorship candidate of the PDP. It’s important to note that the PDP recently held a press conference accusing us of violence in this area.
“The places he mentioned—was he physically present there? He should be at his polling unit, not making baseless accusations. Voting is proceeding smoothly and peacefully in those locations. If there are issues, they should be investigated properly, but I can assure you no APC member is involved.
“Why would we infiltrate remote farm settlements and villages? Such claims are illogical. Perhaps their own plans were disrupted, prompting these allegations. Since morning, the election has been peaceful, and we urge everyone to maintain that peace. As a party, we are committed to peaceful conduct during this election.”
The situation remains tense as authorities work to verify the claims and restore confidence in the electoral process. Residents and stakeholders have called for enhanced security to ensure a smooth conclusion to the voting exercise.
