A violent and politically charged attack erupted on February 16, 2026 at the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Secretariat, leaving party officials and members injured, and prompting a rapid response from the Police Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja.
According to eyewitness accounts, including that of party leader Hon. Otito Atikase, trouble began shortly after a scheduled stakeholders’ meeting was called by the national ward congress committee at the party secretariat in Akure. The committee, accompanied by national officials from Abuja, had met with Engineer Ade Adetimehin and Hon. Kolawole Babatunde, the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Governor, and agreed to reconvene the next day.
Hon. Atikase arrived on the premises around 12:30 pm on February 16, where most party leaders were gathered in what began as a convivial atmosphere. However, his security aide alerted him that an armed group was approaching the upper floor of the secretariat. Before he could react, a large mob—believed to be 40 to 50 members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)—emerged, pushing aggressively toward him.
“I was confronted abruptly on the staircase by the assailants,” Atikase told reporters. “I struggled to defend myself and accused them of being sent by the Governor to eliminate me. That seemed to enrage them further.”
The attackers, according to the complaint document later submitted to the Inspector‑General of Police, Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja, beat Hon. Atikase and other party officials, including the State APC Chairman, whom they dragged from upstairs to downstairs and continued to assault.
Amid the chaos, one of the attackers identified as Chokomilo reportedly threatened Atikase, declaring that “they had paid for his life,” a remark that sent shockwaves through the gathering and forced Atikase to post an urgent alert on social media urging the public: “If anything happens to me, the Governor of Ondo State should be held responsible.”
In a swift response to the public outcry and formal complaint filed at the Police Headquarters in Abuja on February 18, 2026, the Force Intelligence Department swung into action under the direction of Deputy Inspector‑General of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel.
Sources within the Abuja police confirmed to the press that intelligence tracking led to the arrest of one of the key suspects identified in the complaint—Eniba, a known NURTW affiliate.
Eniba was apprehended in Akure and subsequently transferred to Abuja, where he is currently detained at a secure police facility pending further interrogation and investigation.
Addressing journalists today in Abuja, Barrister Babatunde Akintade (Principal Partner, Babatunde Akintade Legal Consult), who is representing Hon. Atikase, confirmed the arrest and provided an update on the status of the investigation.
Barr. Akintade said the arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the probe and commended the Police FID for acting decisively after the high‑level directive from DIG Gumel.
“One of the suspects named in the official complaint, Eniba, has been arrested and is currently in detention in Abuja. This is a direct result of the efforts of the Abuja FID team who were ordered to immediately investigate the attack,” Barr. Akintade told the press.
He stated that all credible leads are being pursued and that the investigation remains active. “We are cooperating fully with the police as they gather statements, forensic evidence, and other materials necessary to ensure that justice is served,” the counsel said.
The initial complaint filed by Hon. Atikase listed several individuals believed to be involved in the attack, including:
• NURTW State Chairman – Odudu (07031291174)
• Eniba (08033965771) — arrested and detained in Abuja
• Ejima (07034734780)
• Bunmi Elewa (07041886261)
• Ejo (08039361561)
Police say additional arrests may follow as the investigation progresses.
Efforts to obtain an official statement from the Ondo State Police Command regarding the incident are ongoing. Meanwhile, the Abuja Police FID has indicated that updates on the investigation will be released as appropriate.