Post-election violence: Thugs burn Kogi PDP Women Leader alive
Kogi
State is witnessing a rein of fear and anarchy at the moment. Sporadic
gunshots could be heard ringing out from major towns in the state,
forcing peace-loving citizens to continue to live in fear and angiush.
There is terror in land, walking on all fours.
In Monday
afternoon, political thugs were said to have gone on the rampage,
killing a middle-aged PDP women leader who was said to have been locked
up in her house and burnt to ashes.
This was a sequel to the
announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
that the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Yahaya
Bello had been re-elected for the second term even as the thugs trooped
out to celebrate the victory.
The victim, Mrs Acheju Abuh, the
Women Leader of Wada Aro Campaign Council, Ochadamu Ward, was said to
have been burnt alive in her home by alleged jubilant supporters and
thugs said to be celebrating their party’s victory.
Reacting to
the banal act, the spokesman, Wada/Aro Campaign Council, Faruk
Adejoh-Audu said: “Chanting GYB 4+4, the thugs, shooting sporadically,
arrived Hon (Mrs) Abuh’s house at about 2pm this afternoon (yesterday)
and surrounded the house, bolting every exit and escape from outside.
“They
then poured petrol on the building and set it ablaze as other
terrorized villagers watched from hiding. She reportedly attempted to
escape through a window but was prevented by the metal burglary proof
and gun shots with bullets raining in her direction.
“The
blood-thirsty thugs waited, shooting and watching with relish while Mrs
Abuh cried from inside the inferno until her voice died out.
“They
reportedly left only when the entire house and Mrs Abuh had been burnt
to ashes. There are fears that the killing spree may escalate over the
night.
“We are calling on all men of good conscience to
immediately help the people of Kogi State appeal to the Inspector
General of Police to rein in Bello’s thugs and protect our people whose
only crime was that they voted for their choice, a vote that was never
allowed to count.
“Unless Nigerians of good conscience
immediately come to our aid, innocent people may die worse agonizing
deaths as the blood lust of Mr Bello and his supporters continue.
“So
far there’s no indication that the Kogi State police will arrest her
killers or even prevent further attacks and killings of people.â€
Sources
from Ochadamu said two other houses had been burnt by the thugs. When
youths in the community made attempts to stop the rampaging thugs, a
serious fight was said to have ensued which led to one of the thugs
allegedly hurting himself with his charmed knife which led to severe
bleeding.
He was rushed to a popular clinic in the community where health workers refused to attend to him without a police report.
The thugs died shortly after he was brought to the clinic while the his enraged comrades promised to burn the clinic.
Investigations
also revealed that since Saturday residents of all major towns in the
state including Lokoja the state capital have been taken over by thugs
and some security personnels who take delight in shooting sporadically
without anyone challenging them
This, it was gathered has created
fears for peace-loving citizens especially women and children who are
often terrified with serious health problems created for the aged and
those suffering from hypertension.
Reacting to the ugly incident
the spoke man of the governor, Kingsley Fanwo, expressed sadness over
the incident and said those responsible for the crisis would be brought
to book.
They then poured petrol on the building and set it ablaze as other terrorized villagers watched from hiding.
They reportedly left only when the entire house and Mrs Abuh had been burnt to ashes.
.
There are fears that the killing spree may escalate over the night.
