Suspected political thugs on Saturday disrupted the planned opening of a secretariat belonging to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Bakassi Local Government Area, forcing organisers to halt the event amid chaos.
Witnesses said the attackers stormed the venue shortly before the ceremony was to begin, scattering party supporters and vandalising equipment prepared for the launch, including canopies, loudspeakers, chairs and other items arranged for the gathering.
A video circulating on social media showed a group of youths forcefully dismantling the event setup while shouting that the ADC would not be allowed to operate in the council area.
In the footage, a man believed to be leading the group could be heard instructing others to destroy the installations, claiming the party had not been active in the community when development efforts were ongoing.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Command described the attackers as hoodlums and said officers were quickly deployed to restore calm in the area.
The police spokesperson, Sunday Eitokpah, said in a statement issued on Sunday that the disruption occurred just as the event was about to commence.
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“The event was about to start when the hoodlums from nowhere came and scattered the canopies, chairs and sound systems,” he said.
According to the police, the situation was swiftly brought under control to prevent it from escalating into a larger crisis.
Eitokpah added that officers and tactical teams had been deployed to maintain order and secure the area, though the disturbance forced organisers to cancel the ceremony.
“Officers and tactical team are at the scene. The event couldn’t continue again. In such a chaotic situation, and considering the volatile nature of the area, for now, no arrests have been made,” he said.
The incident follows a similar disruption earlier in the week in Calabar, where activities of the African Democratic Congress were also reportedly interrupted.
Party members had previously raised concerns over what they described as attempts to hijack the structure of the party within the state.
Security authorities say they will continue monitoring the situation to ensure peace and stability in the area.