BREAKING: Police confirm attack on Kogi Election Panel official

The Kogi State Police Command confirmed an assault on Mr. David Mike, the Secretary of the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, by gunmen on Monday. According to the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, the attack occurred along with two other individuals. Ovye-Aya cautioned against making inflammatory statements, emphasizing that the incident was under investigation.

In a statement issued in Lokoja, Ovye-Aya provided details of the incident, stating that the victims were attacked while heading to their office. Gunmen in SUVs surrounded and blocked their vehicle, seizing documents and petitions from four political parties. The assailants, clad in black attire and heavily armed, reportedly shot into the air and ransacked the car.

The stolen items included petitions from Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Party (APP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP), along with two record books and personal belongings in a bag. Mike reported the incident to the State Criminal Investigation Department and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The Police Commissioner, Bethrand Onuoha, ordered a thorough investigation, and Ovye-Aya urged the public to refrain from making statements that could prejudice the ongoing inquiry. He also appealed for anyone with useful information to come forward.

Earlier, the APC had called for an investigation into the SDP over the alleged attack, while the Kogi SDP accused the APC of employing hired thugs in Lokoja.

(NAN)