PDP chieftain escapes attack in Makurdi, Vehicle burnt hours after new appointment

A prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, Mr. Bemgba Iortyom, narrowly avoided death on Friday night after suspected assailants attacked him and burned his car in Makurdi, the state capital.

The incident occurred just hours after Iortyom publicly announced his appointment as Consultant on Media and Public Communications to the PDP in the state.

Iortyom, who previously served two terms as the party’s State Publicity Secretary, had earlier urged party stakeholders to rally behind him in his new role, which he described as part of the party’s broader effort to regain control of the state from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The state must be rescued from certain crash and destruction at the hands of a governor who took the steering wheel of leadership without even a learner’s permit, not to talk of a driver’s licence qualifying him for the job of steering the state’s affairs safely,” he said in the statement announcing his appointment.

“This is the task I have accepted to contribute to in my capacity as Consultant to the PDP on Media and Public Communications,” he added.

Narrating the incident, Iortyom said the attack happened around 8 p.m. along George Akume Way in central Makurdi as he attempted to pull over to take a phone call.

“I was attacked by unknown persons at about 8pm and though I managed to escape, my car, a Peugeot 406 salon, was set ablaze and burnt to ashes,” he said.

According to him, about five attackers carried out the assault.

“They came on two motorcycles and because I was in the process of clearing off the road to park and make a phone call, they blocked my path and armed with short axes descended on me,” he said.

“I give God Almighty the glory for quick thinking which enabled me to act fast by opening the door of my car and running away before the hoodlums poured fuel on the car and set it ablaze.

“They then mounted their bikes and went away as my shouts and calls for help yielded nothing, with onlookers witnessing the scene without anything to do other than urging me to run to safety,” he added.

Iortyom disclosed that the incident has been reported to the “E Division” of the Benue State Police Command, adding that investigations are already underway. He also described the attack as a sign of increasing political tension in the state.

“Security agencies whose allegiance is to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and not to any individual or group, must rise to their duty and guarantee the safety of citizens before people are left with no choice but to resort to self-help and a descent into lawlessness,” he stated.

Attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, for comments were unsuccessful as of the time this report was filed.