Renowned Fuji musician, Abass Akande, popularly known as Obesere, was on Friday attacked by suspected hoodlums during a burial ceremony at Government Field in Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The incident occurred while the artist and his band were performing to entertain guests at the event, when alleged thugs launched a violent attack on musician Fuji and his band members.
One of the guests, Bosede Akinyemi, who witnessed the assault, said the thugs barged into the venue without warning, creating confusion among guests who had gathered to watch Obesere perform live.
According to her, the group arrived in large numbers and immediately began causing trouble, harassing attendees and attempting to forcibly disrupt the music.
Akinyemi said: “I was at the party yesterday. It was a very shameful act. These guys came out of nowhere and started causing trouble.
“Before we knew it, they pounced on the Obesere boys and started destroying things. They damaged their musical instruments worth millions of naira.”
He explained that the situation escalated so quickly that many guests had to flee to avoid being hurt, saying: “People were pushing each other just to escape. It was like watching a movie, but terrible.”
Akinyemi said he later heard that one of Obesere’s gang members was stabbed while trying to defend the team from further destruction.
Other sources at the scene confirmed that various equipment, including speakers, microphones and other musical instruments, was smashed in the attack.
Members of the performing team reportedly suffered injuries while trying to protect themselves and their instruments.
The motive for the attack remains unclear, although residents say the group of thugs is known in the community for disrupting social events and extorting money from artists.
Reacting to the incident, the Okitipupa Local Government Chairman, Hon. Andrew Ogunsakin expressed his deep displeasure at the violent interruption, calling it “unfortunate, shameful and completely unacceptable.”
In a statement issued on Saturday, Ogunsakin said the actions of the hoodlums undermine the peace and reputation of the Ikale people, known for their hospitality and respect for visitors.
“I received the news of the unfortunate mistreatment meted out to Abass Akande Obesere and his team with deep disappointment and utmost disgust.
“This incident does not reflect the values we uphold as a people. We cannot tolerate vandalism or any act that threatens the harmony of our local government.” the statement said
Ogunsakin assured the public that the council would work with security agencies to ensure that perpetrators are identified and brought to justice.
However, he promised to take necessary measures to avoid similar occurrences in the future, promising to personally communicate with Obesere and his management team to convey the community’s regret and assure them of their safety and welcome in Okitipupa.
Some residents who spoke out after the incident called for stricter community policing measures and noted that the activities of local thugs have been a recurring concern in the area.
They urged authorities to act quickly, warning that such violent disruptions at social gatherings could scare artists and negatively affect the social and economic life of the community.
Although the police have not yet issued an official statement, security sources in the area say that an investigation has been launched to track down those responsible for the attack and destruction of property.
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