BREAKING: Ondo APC Congress Turns Bloody as Gunmen Shoot Chairman’s Brother, 4 Killed

Fresh violence broke out on Wednesday during the ward and local government congress of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, leaving several people dead and many injured.

The crisis occurred in Idanre, Idanre Local Government Area. It involved an attack on Engr. Raphael Adetimehin, the younger brother of the APC Chairman in the state, Ade Adetimehin.

Reports from the community said armed men stormed the area and opened fire during the political exercise. The attackers allegedly mistook Raphael Adetimehin for the APC chairman because of their close resemblance.

Confirming the incident, the party chairman said his brother was brutally assaulted and left unconscious. He disclosed that the assailants first shot at him. When the bullets did not kill him, they used machetes and other sharp weapons on him repeatedly.

He said, *“When the thugs saw his car, they thought it was me because he’s my lookalike.
“The thugs shot at him severally, and when they realized that he was not hurt, they hacked him with machetes, axe and stabbed him many times till he was no longer breathing.

“They set his car ablaze and left him on the ground when they were sure that he was lifeless.

“His lifeless body was taken to the hospital, where the doctor confirmed that he was in a state of coma.

“We are praying that he would recover because he has lost so much blood.”*

Medical sources confirmed that Raphael Adetimehin remains in critical condition at a hospital in Akure, the state capital.

Eyewitnesses said the violence did not stop with one victim. At least four other people were reportedly killed in different parts of the town as gunshots rang out and vehicles were set on fire. Several residents fled their homes in fear as chaos spread across Idanre.

Videos circulating on social media showed burning cars and damaged property, with crowds running for safety. Security operatives were later deployed to restore order, though tension remains high in the area.

Local party members accused rival factions of sponsoring armed thugs to disrupt the congress process. No official arrests have been announced as of the time of filing this report.

In a related development, the Ondo APC chairman was attacked a day earlier during party activities. His convoy was reportedly ambushed by suspected thugs believed to be linked to transport union groups.

However, his driver and other aides sustained injuries and were taken to hospital in Akure.