Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has revealed that intimidation against the party in Kogi State by alleged thugs of All Progressives Congress (APC) have so far claimed seven lives.
Addressing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, the Kogi State PDP stakeholders alerted the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the state as a result of the alleged state-sponsored violence towards the 2019 general elections.
Speaking on behalf the PDP stakeholders, the state Chairman of the party, Engr. Samuel Uhuotu, explained that for the past few days, PDP members have been intimidated, while some, who escaped death have their houses burnt.
To drive their points home, the Kogi PDP stakeholders have shown through a projector, how the house of the former state governor, Ibrahim Idris was invaded by masked men in military uniform, when PDP members were holding a meeting.
Specifically, the state party said that in Dekina Local Government alone, seven of their members were killed, adding that “in Dekina Local Government, we recorded seven deaths. We have made report and in Anyigba police station we have 36 reports and no action has been taken by the security.”
The party members explained that there was a particular day they went to police station to report, “APC thugs invaded the place for hours. It was through God intervention we escape. We appeal to the Inspector General of Police to do something urgently to avert more damage.”
The state chairman, Engr. Uhuotu said, “you will recall that on the January 29, 2019 we addressed the press on the deteriorating security situation in Kogi state occasioned by the untoward activities of political thugs of the APC led government and thereby called on the-security agencies to confront the menace decisively. In our address, we enumerated several atrocities of the government agents targeted at the opposition parties especially the PDP.
“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, has 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 All Progressives Congress (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.
“The entire law abiding indigenes of Kogi deserve to live in peace and be allowed to carry out their civic responsibilities peacefully without any intimidation and coercion. This is all that we ask for. Nothing more, nothing less.
“In our last press conference, we brought to the fore, about thirteen incidents out of the numerous that we are confronted with. Today, we are highlighting over twenty out of the numerous documented cases of acts of violence and thuggery that have been unleashed on us since we briefed you in 29th January, 2019.
“The APC administration has distributed fake police and military uniforms to their thugs which they use to terrorize all the opposition party members especially the PDP members, as was the case with the flagrant invasion and intimidation of PDP Chieftains.
“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 daredevil 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,” he said.
Credit: Daily Independent
