Amnesty Condemns Violent Attack on NDC Town Hall in Lagos

Amnesty International has condemned a violent attack by suspected political thugs on members and supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Lagos. The assault happened on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the Classique Event Centre in Oregun, Ikeja. It disrupted preparations for a town hall meeting that presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, were expected to address. According to the rights group, the violence left more than a dozen people injured and destroyed several cars.

Witnesses say the attackers arrived at about 11 a.m., while supporters sang and danced ahead of the event. Reports say Obi was still on his way to the venue when the violence began. Therefore, he was not yet present when the thugs struck. Soon afterwards, the attackers stormed the venue along Kudirat Abiola Way. Amnesty reports that they aimed machetes and knives at the crowd. Verified videos that the organisation reviewed show the attackers surrounding supporters and beating them with sticks and iron rods. As a result, blood stained the floor, and the hall lay shattered and scattered.

Amnesty described the incident as perhaps one of the most vicious and coordinated attacks on opposition gatherings since campaigns began in August. “Nobody should die or be injured simply for exercising their rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly,” the organisation stated. Moreover, it said it has received reports and verified digital evidence of similar disruptions in other parts of the country.

The group urged the authorities to investigate the incident and to bring the suspects to justice. However, it stressed that trials must be fair and must not involve the death penalty. Furthermore, Amnesty argued that rampant violence against opposition parties undermines the right to freedom of association. It warned that a “brutal campaign of repression” now makes it extremely difficult for opposition members to gather peacefully.

Meanwhile, political leaders have reacted strongly. Obi condemned the attack and urged his supporters to stay peaceful while they defend their democratic rights. The NDC’s Lagos governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, said the episode proves that Obi still commands strong support in the state. In addition, the party’s campaign council condemned the disruption in its own statement.

The question of responsibility remains contested. Some eyewitness accounts and news outlets blamed supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Nevertheless, the Lagos chapter of the APC denied any involvement. The APC campaign council also condemned the attack and called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute those responsible. Sojworldnews has not independently verified who sent the attackers.

Reports about the police response differ. One outlet said the crowd caught a suspected attacker and that police later arrested a suspect, while others said officers had not yet described the scene. Another outlet reported that thugs attacked a journalist and stole expensive equipment at the venue. Police have not published the outcome of any investigation.

The attack comes at a sensitive time. Campaigns have run since August, and opposition parties now hold public events across the country. Consequently, rights groups and politicians from both sides have asked security agencies to protect those gatherings. They argue that voters need safe spaces to hear from candidates and to ask questions.

For now, the Oregun venue stands as a reminder of how quickly a peaceful event can turn violent. Supporters who gathered to listen instead fled for safety, and organisers must now count their injured and repair their losses. Therefore, attention turns to the police and the courts, which must show that political violence carries real consequences. Observers will watch whether investigators identify the attackers and whether prosecutors file charges. Until then, supporters and organisers of every party face an uncertain campaign season.

Sojworldnews will update this story as verified information emerges.