The attackers, who were in paramilitary uniforms and a Toyota Sienna, suddenly blocked the vehicle conveying the activists to court.
Armed thugs on Thursday in Abuja attacked some associates of the human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, inflicting injuries on them.
The hoodlums also stole their victims’ mobile phones, money and bags.
The attack occurred at about 9:00 am at Gudu in Abuja. The victims were on their way to the Court of Appeal to attend the hearing of an appeal filed by Sowore to challenge the ruling of the Federal High Court, which had declared one Leonard Nzenwa as the Acting Chairman of African Action Congress (AAC).
The attackers, who were in paramilitary uniforms and a Toyota Sienna, suddenly blocked the vehicle conveying the activists to court.
The suspected thugs got down and asked the activists to surrender their mobile phones and money.
The thugs wielded guns, machetes, knives and other weapons. The assailants vandalised the windshield and windows of the car and beat up five activists, including a woman.
It was gathered that the attackers, numbering ten, had targeted their victims and engaged them in a hot chase before carrying out the nefarious.
SaharaReporters also gathered that the incident happened a few metres away from a police post in the area.
One of the victims, Juwon Sanyaolu, said, "We were heading to the Court of Appeal to attend the hearing of the appeal on the attempt by the Nigerian state to hijack AAC.
"We were ambushed by some men who were dressed in paramilitary regalia, and armed with cutlasses, sticks, daggers and guns. They crossed our vehicle and attacked us violently, they took our phones and bags.
"That was not the first time these people would attack us, it has become a daily affair and we are convinced that these attacks are sponsored by the Nigerian state, using the Department of State Services and police.
"Their intention was to intimidate us but all these attempts are dead on arrival".
Some thugs on January 19, 2022, similarly attacked Sowore, supporters of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and some journalists at the Federal High Court, Abuja where Nnamdi Kanu is facing trial for treasonable felony.
The hoodlums were used by the police to infiltrate IPOB supporters, it was alleged.