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The political violence that erupted in Okene area of Kogi State on March 3 has spread to Okehi and Adavi local government areas with many houses vandalized and several people injured.
Some of the victims of the violence told newsmen on Monday in Lokoja that the armed masked men moved about in four vehicles to attack them from late Saturday night till the early hours of Sunday, March 4 .
Seven houses and nine vehicles, including a motorcycle were vandalized by the armed hoodlums, said to be numbering about 50. Three persons were also injured by the attackers.
Among the victims were a two term member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulkarim Salihu, Mr Jude Sule, the state Financial Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Chairman of the Okehi Local Government Chairman of the party, Mr Adinoyi Aroke popularly known as take over.
Other victims include the immediate past council leader of Adavi Local Government, Hon. John Adebisis , Mr Yakubu Isiaka, the PDP youth leader in Okehi who was attached in his house at Obangede and one other person simply identified as Haruna.
Both Isiaka and Haruna were among seriously injured by their attackers .
Narrating his experience, Salihu said that the attackers on arrival started raining stones on his house before jumping over the fence into the compound, saying that he immediately called the police who arrived promptly.
He said that the hoodlums vandalized four vehicles , including a Jeep and the aluminum windows and frames in the house.
Salihu, a one time Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on police affairs said that the timely arrival of policemen saved him and members of his family from the attackers.
Sule, the state Financial Secretary of the PDP said that he escaped into a nearby house before the attackers arrived his house based on a tip off he received earlier from another victim.
He said that the attackers were able to get into his compound but could not gain entrance into the main building, saying that they vandalized the building , a motorcycle and also made away with a motorcycle.
Aroke, the PDP Chairman for Okehi Local Government said that his two vehicles and house were vandalized by the armed thugs.
He said that the hoodlums who came about 9:30 pm fired two gunshots into air to scare before descending on his house, saying that nobody was injured in the attack.
The victims said that they have reported the matter to the police. It would be recalled that the violence erupted in Okene at about 9am on March 3, when armed hoodlums invaded AFIMS Hotel, venue of an empowerment programme organized by Sen. Ahmed Ogembe.
Spokesman of the state police Command when asked about what was being done to bring the situation under control said that he would call back but never did till now.
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