A woman leader of All Progressive Congress (APC), in Ikorodu area of Lagos, Mrs. Temitope Elizabeth Abolarin, has cried out to Lagos State Police Command over alleged threat to her life and family by gunmen in her Lagos residence.
The mother of two, who is now in hiding, said her family also came under physical assault following her participation and support for an APC candidate, who contested a seat in Lagos State House of Assembly.
She said: “I am one of the staunch supporters of Mr. Gbolahan Ogunleye, who contested for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly, under APC. I supported the ideals and philosophy of the party, and participated in sensitising women in the area on good governance, voting for their conscience and the future of their children.
“Following my political activism, some people, who are not comfortable with that, have been threatening me and my family.
“One of such threats occurred at my residence in Ikorodu on April 28, when two armed men invaded my home and warned us against canvassing votes for Mr. Gbolahan.
Abolarin, in a statement extracted from Ikeja Police Station, stated that the gunmen claimed that they were sent to kill her, but spared her life.
According to her, the gunmen warned that if the party primary did not favour their candidate, she would pay with the lives of her relatives.
She stressed that the gunmen also dropped a threat letter, fired gunshots into the air and left.
Abolarin stated that the latest of such attacks occurred on May 24 when thugs accosted her on their way home from an event and shot at her.
“I decided to leave the residence with my family to a safe place. These same political thugs accosted my husband on May 24, on our way back from an outing.
“My husband and I were beaten mercilessly and injured. I was also robbed of my belongings. One of the thugs shot at me, but I narrowly escaped through divine intervention.
While calling on the Lagos State Police Command to take immediate action to rid Ikorodu of political thugs, Abolarin said the threats had rendered her family homeless for fear of being killed.
Contacted, spokesperson for Lagos State Police Command, Superintendent of Police (SP), Benjamin Hundeyin, said the Command would urgently look into the matter.
“This matter does not sound like what I am aware of , but I will verify the issue urgently,” he added. (Guardian)