Suspected thugs attacked Fuji musician Abass Akande, popularly known as Obesere, during a burial ceremony in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State on Friday.
The incident disrupted the event and forced many guests to flee for safety.
The attack took place at the Government Field in Okitipupa, where Obesere and his band were scheduled to perform. The atmosphere had been lively as guests gathered for the burial, but the event took a violent turn when the thugs arrived without warning.
A witness, Mrs. Bosede Akinyemi, confirmed the incident in an interview. She said the attackers stormed the venue suddenly and created panic.
Read Also: Pasuma escapes thug attack on convoy in Osun
“I was at the party yesterday,” she said. “It was a shameful scene. A group of boys known for violent acts in the community caused trouble. They attacked Obesere and his band while they were entertaining guests.”
According to her, the thugs targeted both the performers and their equipment. She said they beat some of the band members and destroyed musical instruments worth millions of naira. The violence forced several guests to run for safety.
“They pounced on some of Obesere’s boys and destroyed his equipment,” she added. “You needed to see how I grabbed my shoes and ran. I heard that one of the band members was stabbed while trying to stop the attack.”
The extent of the injuries was not immediately clear, and Obesere himself could not be reached for comments as of yesterday.
The Chairman of Okitipupa Local Government Area, Hon. Andrew Ogunsakin, confirmed the attack and condemned the violence. He described the incident as “unfortunate and unacceptable,” stressing that the behaviour did not reflect the character of the Ikale people.
“I received the news of the mistreatment of Abass Akande Obesere and his team with deep disappointment and distaste,” he said. “This incident was unacceptable and did not reflect the values we uphold.”
Ogunsakin assured the public that his administration would act to prevent a similar incident in the future. He said the council remained committed to maintaining peace and protecting visitors and residents.
“We will not tolerate actions that undermine our harmony and the reputation of our community,” he said. “Necessary steps will be taken to prevent future occurrences, whether toward artists, celebrities, entertainers, or any individual visiting or residing in our local government.”
He also promised to contact Obesere personally to express the council’s regret over the incident.
“I will be reaching out to Obesere and his team,” he added. “We are looking into the matter thoroughly to ensure such an incident does not repeat itself.”
The attack shocked many residents of Okitipupa, especially because the burial ceremony had drawn a large crowd. The unexpected violence raised fresh concerns about security in public gatherings across the state.
Community members said young men known for causing trouble had been involved in similar disruptions in the past. They called on authorities to act quickly and prevent such groups from threatening social events.
Security personnel arrived after the chaos, but the damage had already been done. Several musical instruments lay broken, and chairs and canopies were overturned. Guests who returned later described the scene as disorganised and disturbing.
By yesterday evening, there was still no official statement from Obesere’s management team. However, fans expressed anger online, demanding justice and proper protection for entertainers who perform at public events.
