By 247ureports.com
Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the attack on Benin City comedian Osagie Daniel Idedia, known as Porkupyne, calling it politically motivated and holding Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership responsible, while the police say they have opened a full investigation and have not confirmed any political motive.
Porkupyne was attacked on Friday night, October 23, near a hotel in Benin City after a birthday party, and was taken to hospital. The police said in a statement on Saturday that he was reportedly attacked by hoodlums while returning from a party, and that he is receiving treatment in the intensive care unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. A video of him on a hospital bed circulated widely on Saturday morning. According to a source cited in one account, the party was hosted by the hotel owner, who is described as an APC chieftain, and another comedian who is an APC member warned Porkupyne in the car park to stop criticising Okpebholo’s government. That account has not been confirmed by the police or by the people named.
Atiku said in a statement on X that the assault was aimed at the comedian “solely because he is my supporter and because he dared to demand good governance and accountability in Edo State.” He asked Okpebholo to explain what happened and “stop hiding behind official silence,” demanded that the police identify and expose whoever sponsored the attack, and said Tinubu and the APC must “stop the brutalisation of my supporters.” He also drew the attention of Amnesty International and foreign missions in Nigeria to the incident and asked them to monitor and document political violence ahead of the 2027 elections.
Edo Commissioner of Police Patrick Daaor has ordered a prompt and detailed investigation to establish the circumstances, identify those responsible and prosecute any suspect found liable, according to police spokesperson ASP Eno Ikoedem, who said the command condemns all forms of violence and urged residents to embrace peace. The Edo State Government had not responded to Atiku’s allegations at the time of this report, and 247ureports.com could not independently confirm who attacked the comedian or why. Attackers have not been named or arrested in the reports reviewed.
The incident adds to concern about political violence in Edo ahead of the January election. Amnesty International Nigeria recently condemned the state APC chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, over an “AK-47 fire” threat at a rally and called on the police and the Department of State Services to hold him to account. Opposition figures in the state have also raised the question of whether critics of the government can speak freely, and the government and the APC have denied encouraging violence.
