Edo Comedian ‘Porkupyne’ Hospitalised After Brutal Attack By Suspected APC Thugs

One source told SaharaReporters that another comedian described as an APC member in Edo State, had warned Porkupyne at the hotel car park to be careful and stop criticising the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

An Edo State comedian, Osagie Iredia, popularly known as Porkupyne, has been left in critical condition after gunmen suspected to be political thugs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) attacked him in Benin over his criticism of the state government.

The comedian reportedly sustained deep machete cuts to his head during the attack, while the Sienna vehicle belonging to Hon. Ekundayo Okponmwan, an opposition politician and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate contesting for the Ikpoba/Egor Federal Constituency seat, was vandalised.

Sources told SaharaReporters that the attack occurred on Friday night on a street near Wesley Hotel in Benin City, Edo State, where Porkupyne had attended a birthday celebration hosted by the hotel owner, Wesley Asoro, described as an APC chieftain.

According to the sources, Asoro had personally invited the comedian to anchor his wife’s birthday celebration at the hotel.

The sources alleged that Porkupyne was ambushed shortly after leaving the venue.

One source told SaharaReporters that another comedian described as an APC member in Edo State, had warned Porkupyne at the hotel car park to be careful and stop criticising the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

“Before Porkupyne left the hotel, another comedian who is a card-carrying member of the APC in Edo State, warned Porkupyne at the car park to be careful and stop criticising Okpebholo government in order not to be attacked,” the source said.

“Less than two hours after the warning, the attack was carried out,” the source added.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged attack, including the identities of the perpetrators and their motive, had not been officially established as of the time of filing this report.

In a video shared with SaharaReporters, Okponmwan was seen at the hospital where the injured comedian was receiving treatment, alleging that Porkupyne was attacked because of his criticism of the state government and advocacy for good governance.

“This is Porkupyne. This is what they have done to him tonight for criticising the government, for asking for good governance in Edo State,” Okponmwan said.

He called on the hotel owner to explain what happened, arguing that the comedian had attended the event after being invited by the host. 

“Porkupyne left this evening, went to Wesley Hotel for an occasion. Wesley Hotel needs to come outside to tell us what happened to Porkupyne tonight,” he said.

Okponmwan also urged the Edo State government to ensure that those responsible for the attack were identified and brought to justice.

“The Edo State government must come outside to find these people that did this to him,” he said. 

The ADC candidate linked the alleged attack to the political activities of the opposition and efforts by its members to demand better governance in the state.

In another video shared with SaharaReporters, Okponmwan displayed his damaged Sienna vehicle, showing smashed windscreens, headlights and side windows.

He described the vandalism as an attack on his property because of his political participation and criticised what he called the growing tendency to treat elections as a do-or-die affair.

“This is my car. If you put that, thugs, hoodlums, this is what they did to my car,” he said while showing the damage.

He added, “Everyone has the right to contest an election in Edo State. You know, election should not be do-or-die.”

Okponmwan called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Edo State Commissioner of Police to investigate the incident and identify those responsible.

“I’m calling on the Commissioner of Police. I’m calling on the Edo State Government. They must look for the people that did this thing because insecurity should not just be when it favours you,” he said.

The ADC candidate maintained that the alleged attack would not stop him from campaigning or appealing to voters to support his party.

“But we are not going to back out. We are not backing out. I’m not going to back out,” he said.

He added that he would continue to canvass for votes and encourage residents to participate in the electoral process despite the incident.

Okponmwan also criticised the economic situation in the state and referred to rising petrol prices as one of the issues generating public dissatisfaction.

He urged security agencies to ensure that political differences did not expose residents to violence or destruction of property.

“They should please open an investigation into this issue, to fish out all these perpetrators,” he said, appealing to the police to identify those behind the incident.

SaharaReporters’ efforts to obtain an official response from the Edo State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Nkereuwem Ikoedem, did not answer calls as of the time of filing this report.