Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has alleged that thugs loyal to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) looted shops and destroyed campaign billboards in his community in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. The incident, according to Keyamo, occurred on Friday, September 18, 2026. He made the allegation in a post shared on his X handle on Sunday.
Keyamo stated that the attackers wrecked havoc on billboards pasted everywhere by Tompolo's door-to-door Campaign Organisation and entered people's shops with dangerous weapons, looting them. The minister said he wanted the world to see what the NDC's thugs went to his community in Effurun, Uvwie LGA of Delta State, to do. He criticised what he described as unequal reactions to political violence.
Keyamo argued that the response would have been different if the victims were members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). "If it had been the other way round against the APC, the section of the bias Press and so-called human rights groups would have been screaming to high heavens, but since this happened, everywhere is mute," he said. The minister compared the incident to the recent blockade of Labour Party's Peter Obi's entourage in Benue State.
According to Keyamo, he had condemned the blockade of Peter Obi's entourage but believed what happened in Delta was worse. "This is the exact point I made when I openly condemned the blockade of Peter Obi's entourage from entering Benue State. But what happened in Benue is nothing compared to this," he said. Keyamo further alleged that some law enforcement officers accompanied the attackers.
The minister stated that "The video is clear and the evidence is overwhelming. We have more evidence. The thugs were even accompanied by law-enforcement agents in their payroll." He said he had advised his supporters against taking the law into their own hands and announced plans to submit a petition to the Inspector-General of Police this week.
Keyamo added that he would ask the police to investigate the incident and bring all those found wanting to book. "I have warned everyone not to resort to self-help," he said. The minister's allegations have sparked concerns about the rising cases of political violence in the country.
Keyamo's community was targeted in the alleged attack, with several shops looted and campaign billboards destroyed. The incident has been widely condemned, with many calling for an investigation into the matter. Keyamo's decision to petition the Inspector-General of Police is seen as a move to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Key points
- - Keyamo alleges NDC thugs looted shops and destroyed campaign billboards in his Delta State community. - The minister criticised what he described as unequal reactions to political violence. - Keyamo plans to submit a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, seeking an investigation into the incident.
