The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah, has accused thugs linked to Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, of violently disrupting the NANS inauguration ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday.
The attack also targeted several political figures attending the event, including former Kano State Governor Senator Ibrahim Shekarau and former Kogi State Governor Captain Idris Wada.
Speaking with SaharaReporters on Wednesday, Atiku said that a group of armed thugs stormed the inauguration venue, The Wells Carlton Hotel in Asokoro, with machetes and guns, injuring many attendees and stealing phones and valuables.
He said that the violence began after Senator Shekarau started his speech, and that the attackers were led by a man named Ladoja.
“At the inauguration hall which I personally paid for at The Wells Carlton Hotel, Asokoro, Seyi Tinubu arrived with a large number of security men and ordered them to stop the event,” Atiku said.
“The management of the hotel informed me about the interference, but I decided to go ahead with the inauguration. Immediately after we were inaugurated and Senator Shekarau began his speech, Seyi’s thugs entered the hall wielding guns and cutlasses.
“They stopped the senator, began stabbing people, and chased others away, snatching phones and valuables in the process.”
Atiku also claimed that the attack was planned, accusing Seyi Tinubu of previously offering him a large bribe to stay silent. He said that after he rejected the money, the thugs were sent to attack him.
He also described how Seyi Tinubu’s thugs targeted other high-profile guests, including Senator Shekarau and Captain Wada, though both were rescued by their security teams.
“Before the day of the inauguration, Seyi had asked the Senior Special Assistant on Students and Youth Affairs to lure me into silence with money. I was told he was ready to offer me a hundred million naira. My refusal to accept the bribe led to the attack yesterday.”
“When Seyi’s thugs, led by one Ladoja, came in with machetes and guns, they beat people and injured many. Nigerians should beg Seyi to spare my life,” Atiku said, sounding a note of distress.
“They attacked Senator Shekarau, the former Minister of Education, and also Captain Idris Wada, the former governor of Kogi State. Fortunately, both of them were whisked away by their security details. I, however, was taken to an unknown location after being beaten and injured.”
Efforts to contact Shekarau and Wada for comment were unsuccessful, as they did not answer calls or messages.
Earlier this week, Atiku had claimed that Seyi Tinubu was trying to have him killed after his refusal to accept the bribe.
He also accused Seyi of attempting to stop the inauguration and having hotel staff lock down the venue to prevent anyone from leaving or entering.
The NANS convention in February had already been overshadowed by factional disputes, and tensions had been high ahead of the event.
KanyiDaily recalls that Nigerian rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem recently called on Seyi Tinubu to speak up about the struggles ordinary Nigerians are facing.