Date: 2 November, 2025
By: Thomas Adigun
Residents of Bariga have been thrown into fear following a fresh attack on the home of community leader and PDP Ward Secretary, Edward Oluwaniyi, as unidentified men stormed 3 Onabola Street on the night of October 30, 2025, in a chilling attempt that suggests a renewed threat to his life and that of his family.
Neighbours said the assailants arrived in large numbers, going from house to house and demanding to know the whereabouts of Mr. Oluwaniyi, his wife, and his children.
Although the attackers stormed the building in search of them, Mr. Oluwaniyi and his family were no longer living in the apartment, having relocated earlier for safety reasons.
Neighbours said the invaders ransacked the surroundings before leaving, vowing to track down the family wherever they might be.
This latest incident has revived painful memories of the brutal September 6, 2021 attack, when Mr. Oluwaniyi was left for dead after he was ambushed by about five unknown assailants.
Eyewitnesses recalled how the attackers ran him over with a vehicle, shattering his leg, back, and fingers, before beating him mercilessly and abandoning him in a pool of blood.
He was rescued by a Good Samaritan and rushed to Adekola Hospital, Bariga, where doctors battled to save his life.
Residents remember that the attackers, even after inflicting those life-threatening injuries, vowed to wipe out his entire household.
“They swore they would kill him and his family,” a neighbour recalled. “Now it seems they are back to finish what they started.”
Friends and community members describe Mr. Oluwaniyi as a tireless advocate for peace, unity, and grassroots development, a man who mediated disputes, supported the needy, and played a key role in strengthening PDP membership within the ward. Many believe his growing popularity and political relevance may have provoked resentment from rivals, turning him into a target.
The renewed attack has plunged the community into anxiety, with many residents now living in fear of further violence.
“If someone like Edward could be targeted twice, then all of us are in danger,” a community elder lamented.
When contacted then, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Lagos State Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed the incident and assured that efforts are underway to apprehend the perpetrators and restore security to the area.
For many in Bariga, the ordeal of Edward Oluwaniyi is more than a political story, it is a painful human tragedy. It highlights the frightening risks faced by citizens who choose to serve their communities with commitment and courage.
As the hunt for the attackers continues, one question lingers: How long will violent power struggles be allowed to overshadow the lives of ordinary, hardworking Nigerians?
