APC Thugs Attack SDP Campaign Leader In Kogi, Policeman killed, Others Abducted

Political thugs allegedly connected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) launched an attack on the residence of Sheik Ibrahim Jibrin, the Director-General of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Campaign Council in Anyigba, Kogi State.  This attack occurred early in the morning, resulting in the death of one police officer and four others. The assailants, armed with an armored personnel carrier (APC), forcibly entered the compound by breaking the gate. They fired upon gaining entry, killing Officer Atabor, the police guard. According to the SDP, this attack was carried out by a “rogue force” reportedly assembled by Governor Yahaya Bello in preparation for the upcoming governorship election. The SDP alleged that this rogue force comprised thugs led by a wanted individual, Friday Makama, navy mercenaries led by N.U Akalezi of the Nigerian Navy, and DSS operatives under the command of Mr. Tosin Ajayi. The attack lasted for over an hour, leaving several individuals injured. Besides Officer Atabor’s death, six other individuals, believed to be policemen on official duty, were reportedly taken by the attackers. Comrade I D Ijele, the campaign council’s Head of New Media, is feared to have been abducted during the attack, with no contact since the incident began. The SDP’s campaign council expressed concerns that the rogue force remained active in Anyigba with their armored personnel carrier (APC). The SDP called upon the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to transfer the commissioner allegedly involved in these activities to ensure a free and fair election in Kogi State.

Police Initiate Inquiry Into Political Clashes, Violence In Kogi

The Kogi Police Command on Sunday launched investigation into alleged reports of political clashes and violence in Kogi as the Governorship election draws closer. The Police action was sequel to a report of alleged attack on the SDP Campaign train at Koton-Karfe where some persons were said to have been injured in the process through political violence. The Kogi Commissioner of Police, Onuoha Bethrand, in a statement issued in Lokoja by the Command’s Spokesman, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, said that the police would not tolerate any act of lawlessness in the state. The worried commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to commence a thorough, diligent and wholistic investigation of all acts of political violence, accusations and counter-accusations on all the political parties and actors with a view to bringing all offenders to book. Bethrand condemned some politicians whose stock-in-trade is violence and who have taken it upon themselves to cause mayhem and heat up the state through their unguarded utterances and unregulated activities. “I hereby sternly warn all the Political Parties in the state and their supporters to play by the Rules and stop heating up the state or face severe sanctions. “You should all desist from all forms of violence as anyone caught disrupting the prevailing peaceful environment in the state will be made to face the full wrath of the Law. “Moreso that the Governorship election is fast approaching, we are appealing to all political actors to give peace a chance by conducting themselves in peaceful manner and shunning all acts capable of truncating the peace, tranquility and unity of Kogi. “Therefore, for the last time, I wish to warn would-be trouble-makers to have a change of heart and desist from acts of intolerance as the Police is ever determined to deal decisively with anyone who will not give peace a chance in the state,” he warned. The police boss also assured of the Command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of all lives and property in the state before, during and after the Nov. 11 governorship election. He, however, attributed some the crises or violence to the failure of most of the political actors to honour invitations and partake in series of stakeholders’ parleys/interactions, where issues bordering on security and the need to conduct political activities as enshrined in the Electoral Act are discussed. “Again, not all the Chairmen and Candidates of the other Political Parties honour Police Invitations to discuss petitions and/or allegations with the Police, and other salient issues germane to peaceful campaigns, and that of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security. “For the record, several invitations extended to the SDP and ADC Candidates for interaction and consultation with the Police to shed light, provide explanations and give their own side of the story on Petitions written against them, but to no avail. “While these other parties have been carrying the police along in their activities, the SDP candidate has consistently and vehemently refused to honour any of police invitations for investigation, or inform the me nor the command while embarking on political rallies to enable the police provide adequate security coverage. “His (SDP Candidate’s) refusal to deal with the police is undermining peace in the State, has been impeding efforts to streamline and regulate political activities. “It has in turn, greatly contributed to the pockets of political violence being witnessed in the State presently. His riding roughshod and engaging in political brinkmanship and brigandage is an illwind that blows no one any good,” he noted. The police commissioner, however, expressed his sympathy to victims of last Friday’s Koton Karfe political violence that left some people wounded.