Suspected thugs allegedly attacked and severely injured the Secretary-General of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Uwheru Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Edewor Akpedafe.
The incident reportedly occurred during a meeting held at the residence of Olorogun Miller Uloho, Advisory Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Council.
It was learnt that there has been a lingering land dispute over the ownership of an oil facility between Evwreni Kingdom (Unenurhie) and Uwheru Kingdom.
It was also gathered that the victim was dragged on the floor into a Sienna bus, where his attackers allegedly continued to assault him with dangerous weapons.
Akpedafe was thereafter allegedly taken to the Ughelli North Local Government Council Secretariat, where the beating reportedly continued until his condition deteriorated.
He was subsequently taken by sympathisers to the office of the Police Area Commander in Ughelli.
It was gathered that the Area Commander directed that the victim be rushed to a hospital for medical attention.
The APC chieftain is currently hospitalised and receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital, with doctors attending to injuries reportedly sustained on his head and other parts of his body.
The alleged attack has generated concern among members of the Uwheru community and political circles in Ughelli, particularly because it reportedly occurred during a meeting convened ostensibly to mediate a dispute and find a peaceful resolution to the matter.
The identities and roles of those involved in the alleged assault, as well as the circumstances that led to the incident, could not be independently established at the time of filing this report.
Some persons within political circles in Ughelli have pointed accusing fingers at the Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Council, Hon. Jaro Egbo, alleging that he may have had a role in the incident.
However, the allegation against Egbo could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.