APC thugs force 3 PDP ex- Govs, stakeholders out of Kogi, Party alleges

….Petitions NSA, IGP, others

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

The Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has once again alerted the entire world to series of political persecution which include killing, maiming, arson and disruption of meeting suffered by its members in the hands of thugs allegedly sponsored by the Governor Yahaya Bello led All Progressives Congress (APC) government. Party stakeholders which included former Governors Idris Wada, Ibrahim Idris, acting Governor Clarence Olufemi, Senators Dino Melaye who converged on Abuja on Wednesday raised the alarm over the invasion of the State by thugs loyal to the state government who go about maiming and killing members of the opposition. Recall that the party had on January 29 raised similar alert in Abuja but without response from security agents including the office of the Inspector General of Police and the State Police Command. The party presented pictures of how the house of ex-governor Idris house was surrounded by thugs in police and military uniforms with houses burnt and several cars smashed said that Kogi has become unsafe for members of the opposition as they cannot organise public rally hold meetings without suffering casualties. Kogi State PDP chairman, Elder Sam Ihuotu alleged that some PDP members have been hounded, others victims of serial harassment of its members, as well as sponsoring armed thugs to cow opposition members. He said, “For the umpteenth time, the Kogi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is once again constrained to cry out to the security forces, the Nigerian public and the international community that we are still under siege. Indeed, the situation has deteriorated and is dangerously slipping into total anarchy. “The incidences of intimidation, brutality and unprovoked disruption of political meetings and gatherings have not abated but in fact, have worsened with ferocious intensity spreading across the state, as we move towards the general elections. “The acts of intimidation and unleashing of terror by the APC have become increasingly brazen, reckless, monstrous and ominously dangerous. We believe that this sordid and unwarranted situation of a state-sponsored violence would have been effectively contained if the security agencies had heeded to our cry and indeed the cry of all Kogi indigenes to confront and check this monster”. Stressing specific incidences of assault on PDP members, he continued, “On Friday, the 15th of February 2019, at about 11 am, mostly hooded APC thugs wearing army camouflage and police uniforms, armed to the teeth with sophisticated weapons, carried a most brazen invasion of the house of the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim ldris where a PDP stakeholders meeting was taking place. “These dare-devil fake Soldiers and Policemen surrounded the house and forced themselves into the compound but retreated temporarily when it was rumoured that the ‘real’ soldiers have been invited and were on their way. They dispersed only to resurface again after the solders had returned to base. “These thugs were not done as, they subjected the dignitaries that were leaving the house to humiliating searches. As if this was not enough, they shot sporadically at the vehicles coming from the house and thereby damaging many vehicles. “On the 15th of February, 2019, activities in Ayingba in the Eastern Senatorial District were brought to a halt with sporadic gun fire by APC thugs.” The PDP leaders also described as worrisome, the alleged “misuse of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS by the government to arrest and intimidate our members who are locked up indefinitely on the orders of the governor without any charges.” Although the group said that they have about 30 petitions at the Anyamgba police station with several petitions to the Force Headquarters, they called on the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and heads of other security agencies to move quickly to forestall a possible breakdown of law and order in the state before, during and after the elections. Other critical stake holders at the briefing include,   Former Acting Governor Clarence Olufemi, Sunday Awoniyi, Sen. Tunde Awoniyi, Hon. T. J. Yusuf amongst others.