Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused thugs from the opposition Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) of wreaking havoc in his community, Effurun, in Delta State. According to Keyamo, the incident occurred on Friday, September 18, 2026, and involved the destruction of campaign materials belonging to President Bola Tinubu. The minister made the allegations in a post on his social media handle on Sunday night.
Keyamo shared a video that appears to show thugs wearing Obi-Kwankwaso movement paraphernalia destroying property and looting shops. A narrator in the video, identified as Aproko King, claimed that NDC thugs, escorted by security personnel, went on a rampage in the community, destroying campaign materials. Keyamo captioned the video, revealing that the thugs targeted billboards pasted by Tompolo's door-to-door Campaign Organisation and looted shops with dangerous weapons.
The minister accused a section of the press and human rights groups of bias and double standards for not speaking out against the incident. Keyamo argued that if the situation were reversed and the APC were the victims, the press and human rights groups would have been vocal. He stated that the incident was worse than the blockade of Peter Obi's entourage from entering Benue State, which he had earlier condemned.
Keyamo emphasized that the video evidence of the attack is clear and overwhelming, and that the thugs were accompanied by law enforcement agents. As a prominent political leader in the community, he vowed not to let the incident slide and warned against self-help. The minister disclosed that he would submit a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, for a thorough investigation.
Keyamo's petition will seek disciplinary action against law enforcement agents who condoned the looting and destruction of properties. He expressed readiness for a long-term approach to addressing the issue. The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in the country and the role of law enforcement agents in maintaining peace during political campaigns.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has not reacted to the allegations made by Keyamo. However, the incident has sparked a renewed debate about the need for peaceful and fair elections in Nigeria. The country's electoral body, INEC, has emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and order during the campaign period.
Keyamo's allegations have also raised questions about the preparedness of the security agencies to handle the challenges of the upcoming elections. The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, will be expected to investigate the incident and take necessary actions.
Key points
- Keyamo alleges NDC thugs destroyed APC campaign materials and looted shops in his community.
- The minister accuses law enforcement agents of accompanying the thugs during the rampage.
- Keyamo to petition the Inspector-General of Police for a thorough investigation.
