An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Uwheru Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Edewor Akpedafe, has been hospitalised after he was allegedly attacked and severely beaten by suspected thugs.
Akpedafe, who is the Secretary-General of the APC in Uwheru Kingdom, was reportedly attacked during a meeting held at the residence of Olorogun Miller Uloho, Advisory Chairman of the Ughelli North Local Government Council.
Sources said the meeting was convened in connection with a lingering land dispute involving the ownership of an oil facility between Evwreni Kingdom, also known as Unenurhie, and Uwheru Kingdom.
According to accounts of the incident, the APC chieftain was allegedly dragged on the floor and forced into a Sienna bus, where his attackers reportedly continued assaulting him with dangerous weapons.
He was subsequently taken to the Ughelli North Local Government Council Secretariat, where the alleged beating was said to have continued until his condition reportedly deteriorated.
Sympathisers later took him to the office of the Police Area Commander in Ughelli, where the Area Commander was said to have directed that he be immediately taken to a hospital for medical attention.
Akpedafe is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital, with medical personnel attending to injuries reportedly sustained to his head and other parts of his body.
The alleged assault has heightened concerns among residents of Uwheru and political stakeholders in Ughelli, particularly as the incident reportedly occurred during a meeting purportedly convened to mediate the longstanding dispute and seek a peaceful resolution.
Meanwhile, the identities of those allegedly involved in the attack and the precise circumstances that triggered the violence remained unclear at the time of filing this report.
Some individuals within political circles in Ughelli have alleged that the Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Council, Hon. Jaro Egbo, may have had a connection to the incident.
However, the allegation against Egbo could not be independently verified, and there was no confirmed response from him at the time of filing this report.
Police authorities had also not publicly disclosed details of any investigation or possible arrests in connection with the alleged attack.
Credit: Daily Post except headline
