The crew members sustained various degrees of injuries during the attack. The incident occurred amid the three-day Oro rite declared by the traditional ruler of the kingdom, Saheed Ademola (Kusenla III), on non-indigenes and women, including on the day of the election. The Oro rite has led to the restriction of movement for the performance of the ceremony in the community from Wednesday to Saturday.
The monarch's memo announcing the Oro rite has sparked allegations of a political motive for the curfew. Some residents of the community claim that the curfew will further disenfranchise women and non-indigenes from voting on election day.
Others complain that it will paralyse commercial activities in the community. The incident has raised concerns about the security of journalists and media personnel covering the elections. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the attack and called on the authorities to ensure the safety of journalists covering the polls.
Arise News, in a statement, called for an immediate investigation into the incident and the prosecution of the perpetrators. The station also urged the authorities to provide adequate security for journalists covering the polls and ensure the safety of all citizens during the electoral process.
The attack on the Arise News crew is one of several incidents of violence and unrest reported in the ongoing governorship and state assembly elections across the country. The authorities have been urged to ensure that the polls are free, fair, and peaceful and that the rights of citizens to vote are not infringed upon.