Suspected political hooligans, believed to be affiliated with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, launched a violent assault on the residence of Sheik Ibrahim Jibrin, the Director-General of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Campaign Council in Anyigba, killing a police officer named Atabour and four others.
The attack occurred at about 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Reports indicate the assailants absconded with the lifeless body of Officer Atabor and the other victims, presumed to be security personnel on duty at the time.
Faruk Adejoh-Audu, the spokesperson for the Muri/Sam Gubernatorial Campaign of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), alleged that these individuals represented a “rogue force” purportedly assembled under the directive of Governor Yahaya Bello in anticipation of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
Adejoh-Audu elaborated, “A rogue force, reportedly comprising thugs led by Friday Makama, who is officially wanted by a Federal High Court, Supol Ojo from the Lokoja Mopol office, and navy mercenaries commanded by N.U Akalezi of the Nigerian Navy, fatally attacked Officer Atabor and several other individuals during this morning’s incident.”
The assault, lasting over an hour, was characterized by indiscriminate gunfire. The perpetrators forcibly breached the entrance gate to Sheik’s residence with an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).
Concerns have also arisen regarding the possible abduction of Comrade I D Ijele, the Head of New Media for the campaign, who was last heard from at 6:00 a.m. during the attack.
This incident may be part of a broader violent strategy reminiscent of events during the 2019 Governorship Elections when a helicopter was allegedly deployed to target voters.
The SDP’s Muri/Sam Campaign Council has called upon the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to redeploy Commissioner Bethrand Unuoha.
Kogi is one of three states having gubernatorial elections on 11 November. Ethnicity, religion, power shift and political affiliations are among many sentiments in the mix in Saturday’s expectedly turbulent election in the state.
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