Political Analyst Aimuamwonsa Julius Decries Persecution as Suspected Thugs Vandalise His Property

By Ade David

There was pandemonium in a suburb of Benin, Edo State, South – South Nigeria on Wednesday night December 4, 2023, as political thugs Vandalised property, while shooting sporadically on the air, where one person was confirmed dead.

It was gathered that the house that Vandalised was owned by Uzama Aimuamwonsa Julius, a political activist and member of the opposition party, the Labour Party.

A resident who craved anonymity said the thugs invaded the scene in their large numbers, armed with guns and other dangerous weapons and started shooting sporadically after which a neighbour was hit by a bullet and died on the spot.

According to sources, when the thugs got to Julius house, they were shouting where is Julius, and kept shooting into the air but when they didn’t see him, they invaded his compound, Vandalised the house and property within, as well as the car in the compound, while also chanting “Julius must die “Julius will know that politics is not for children”, and many other threatening words.

As of the time of filing this report, all efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command for comments proved abortive, no arrest has also been made as of press time.

A top Labour Party member in Edo state, who preferred anonymity decried and condemned the incessant attack on members of the opposition party in the state and called on security agencies to rise up to their duties to make Edo state safe for all irrespective of political affiliations.

According to him, the reckless killings and destruction of properties all are the bid to silence the opposition in the stake. He called on the Nigerian Police to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Julius, it would be recalled, was earlier attacked along Benin Road before the general elections when some political thugs who were alleged to be members of the All progressive Congress (APC) set fire in his car while he was still inside. He was allegedly left to die in the inferno until he was rescued by some Good Samaritans and taken to Hospital with various degrees of injuries. No arrest was made in that attack.

While speaking to newsmen after the attack, though from an unknown location, the victim, Julius said he was in hiding running for his dear life and totally devastated by the incident. He lamented that he has lost everything and can no longer walk freely because of the death threats by the political thugs.

Uzama Aimuamwonsa Julius alleged that the thugs first came to his private business premises on the 30th of November, 2023 to collect illegal levies from business owners and shops in the locality but he refused pay because it was illegal and receipts are not issued after payment. He noted that other business owners who saw his courage also refused to pay which infuriated the hoodlums and they left with the promise to deal with him because they know fully well that he is a member of the Labour Party and a social activist in the area.

He said, “I’m shaking now. This is not the democracy our heroes’ past envisaged, political thugs of the ruling party are after my life, they want to kill me because of my views and opinion. I thank God that I wasn’t at home at the time of the attack, I would have been killed. I have lost everything because of my political views. With the current state of things, it has become clear to me that I am no longer safe in the Stale. So I decided to relocate a few days ago to somewhere safe outside the state after selling all my belongings and my business premises. Immediately I arrived in my secret location, I have been receiving phone calls from unknown persons threatening to find me wherever I am and kill me.

While condemning the attack, political analyst and social commentator, Abass Eroma asserted that political assassinations, godfatherism and thuggery are the bane of Nigeria’s democracy. According to him, some politicians engage some unemployed youths as thugs to cause mayhem and intimidate oppositions, political and human rights activists before, during and after elections.

He said “this wanton killing and destruction of properties is ultimately a function of degraded state capacity, mistrust of law enforcement, and erosion of the rule of law. The immediate restoration of law and order is urgently needed in Nigeria”.