The Kogi State Police Command has revealed that gunmen attacked the secretary of the state governorship election tribunal, Mr David Umar Mike, on Monday in Lokoja and stole confidential petition documents relating to the state’s just ended gubernatorial election.
SP William Aya, the state police command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), made the announcement in Lokoja on Wednesday.
According to police, the attackers of the state governorship tribunal secretary took all petition materials filed by five political parties at gunpoint.
According to police, the documents taken from Mike include petitions filed by four (4) parties: Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Party (APP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP), as well as two (2) record books and a bag containing his personal items.
The incident occurred immediately before the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) headquarters at around 1320hrs on Monday, as victims were on their way to the tribunal venue at the state High Court complex in Lokoja, according to the police.
Police said,
“On Monday, 04/12/2023 at about 1820hrs, one Mr David Umar Mike ‘m’ Secretary to Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal along with Labode Apreala (f) Confidential Secretary and Hassimu Adamu Assistant Secretary, came to State Criminal Investigation Department, Kogi State Police Headquarters and reported that on the said date, three of them left their Hotel rooms in Lokoja about 1300hrs, heading to their Office at the High Court Complex driving in his (David’s) Peugeot 406 Car.
“That just before the CBN at about 1320hrs, one SUV vehicle which had earlier overtaken him blocked his car with two other SUVs following behind.
“All of them surrounded and blocked him as he attempted to reverse. That he saw about seven hooded men all heavily armed and dressed in black attire who shot severally into the air and dragged him and his two other colleagues out of their car, ransacked the car and made away with all the petition documents.”
SP Aya added that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Onuoha Benthrand, had ordered for a thorough and diligent investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, the police command has advised general public to avoid statements that may prejudice ongoing investigation into the matter even as the command appealed to anyone with useful information on the incident to provide same to command.
SDP and All Progressives Congress had traded words over the attack on Monday with both sides pointing an accusing finger at each other. While SDP alleged that the attack was perpetrated by hired political thugs, APC said it was staged.
(Credit: Daily Trust)