From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Social Democratic Party (SDP), has claimed that some gunmen and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, attacked and dispersed its party faithful during its rally in the state.
Director of Communications, Muri/Sam Gubernatorial Campaign Council, Faruk Adejoh-Audu, in a statement yesterday, alleged that the gunmen led by one Mohammed Nasir Alfa said to be the Assistant State Chairman of the APC (Kogi East District) descended on the venue at St Matthews Primary School Ejule and started shooting sporadically to disperse SDP supporters that had gathered for the event.
According to Adejoh-Audu, the moment supporters began trooping to the rally ground followed by a motorcade, Alfa again unleashed the thugs this time shooting sporadically.
He alleged: “Gunmen earlier today attacked and dispersed a Social Democratic Party (SDP) Governorship Ward Rally holding in Ejule Kogi, Ofu LGA of Kogi State..
“The gunmen led, by one Mohammed Nasir Alfa said to be the Assistant State Chairmam of the APC (Kogi East District) descended on the Rally venue at St Matthews Primary School Ejule amd started shooting sporadically to disperse a mammoth crowd of SDP supporters that had gathered for the event.
“Witnesses identified Dele Ademu; Daddy Ndah; Danladi Alaba from (Umomi Village); Muhammed Nasiru Alfa (APC zonal Chairman) Yahaya Ademu aka Kia Man; Mustepha idris aka Ore; Besiru Mudi aka Para ( all from Ejule Town)
and other dreaded APC thugs among over 30 fully armed bandits unleashed by the APC vice Chairman known to coordinate thugs in Ofu LGA for the outlaw governor of the state .
“Earlier at about 9: 30am about two hours before the rally was scheduled to commence, the thugs had descended on the St Matthews Primary School venue and destroyed the canopies, Public Address Systems, Chairs and the podium arranged for the event.
“But SDP leaders in the LGA .led by Elder Obolo, Rabi Emaiku and Gambo Haruna had encouraged supporters to ignore the intimidation and still show up for the rally.
“The moment supporters began trooping to the rally ground followed by a motorcade Alfa again unleashed the thugs this time shooting sporadically.
“This time the APC Vice Chairman Alfa personally led the thugs to siege on the rally ground which led to supporters running for their dear lives.
“Several persons were injured in the course of the bedlam while the thugs equally destroyed several vehicles they identify as belonging to SDP supporters.
“This is the second time that an SDP Rally will be attacked by identified aides of Bello leading thugs in less than weeks.
“A similar attack was unleashed on an SDP rally at Koton Karfe in Kogi LGA of the state on September 29,.leading to one death and at least 10 persons sustaining gunshot injuries.
“The Muri/Sam Campaign Council is aware of a standing threat by Mr Yahaya Bello to his aides, appointees and senior APC officials that they will face his wrath if an SDP event is allowed to hold in their home of origin.”
He called on President Bola Tinubu and relevant agencies to intervene before the attacks would get out of hand.
“For the record, we are again calling on the President and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Directorate of State Services and all other Mangers of our security and federation to urgently intervene and address the drift in Kogi State before it fatally undermines our democracy.
“The people of Kogi State deserved to be protected to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to Universal Adult Suffrage.
“So far it has been a harvest of blood and bones and for destruction of property openly orchestrated by Mr Yahaya Bello,” he said.