Suspected political thugs from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) attacked the residence of the Director-General of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Campaign Council, Sheik Ibrahim Jibrin, in Anyigba, Kogi State. The attack left one policeman and four other individuals dead.
The assailants, who stormed the residence at around 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, were armed with an armoured personnel carrier (APC).
They reportedly gained entry by breaking down the gate of the compound and then unleashed a barrage of gunfire, killing the police guard, identified as Officer Atabor, on the spot.
According to a statement released by the SDP’s Muri/Sam Gubernatorial Campaign spokesman, Faruk Adejoh-Audu, the attack was carried out by a “rogue force” allegedly assembled by Governor Yahaya Bello in the lead-up to the upcoming Saturday governorship election.
Adejoh-Audu further alleged that the rogue force comprised thugs led by one Friday Makama, who is currently wanted by a Federal High Court, as well as navy mercenaries led by N.U Akalezi of the Nigerian Navy. He also claimed that the force included DSS operatives under the command of Deputy Director General of the Service, Mr Tosin Ajayi.
The attack reportedly lasted for over an hour, during which time several people were shot. In addition to Officer Atabor, the assailants also took away the corpses of six other individuals, believed to be four policemen on official duty.
The campaign council’s Head of New Media, Comrade I D Ijele, is also feared to have been abducted during the attack. He was last heard from at 6:00 a.m., as the attack was unfolding.
He added, “The rogue force is still prowling around Anyigba with the Armoured Personalities Carrier ( APC) as at the time of writing this statement.
“The police in Kogi just like they did during the 2019 Governorship Elections when they procured a helicopter to shoot at voters are executing Bello’s desperate plans to overwhelm the will of the people. The attack using a rogue force of thugs and mercenaries Navy was deliberately designed to commence few days to elections.
“It is our information that Bethrand Unuoha and some other compromised security chiefs in Kogi will sustain this Sporadic attacks on our Campaign leadership and supporters particularly in Kogi East until the day of election.
“This is to achieve Bello’s plot to suppress the voter’s turnout in Kogi East which he believed is a stronghold of the SDP. The Muri/Sam Campaign Council is once more calling on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to transfer this commissioner who is an eager enforcer of Bello’s desperate violent schemes to allow for a free and fair election in Kogi State.”