The Nigeria Police Force has commenced investigation into the gunmen attack on the Secretary to the Kogi State Off-cycle Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Mr David Umar Mike.
Mike , and two others; Labode Apreala (f), Confidential Secretary and Hassimu Adamu , Assistant Secretary, to the tribunal were attacked in Lokoja, by yet to be identified gunmen at about 4:20pm of Monday, December 4, 2023 while on their way to venue of the tribunal’s sitting.
Spokesman of the Kogi State Police Command, SP William Aya, in a statement in Lokoja on Wednesday said the state Commissioner of police has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
The tribunal Secretary had in his formal report of the attack to the police alleged that about seven hooded men, all heavily armed and dressed in black attire shot severally into the air and dragged him and his two other colleagues out of their car.
He also alleged that the armed attackers ” ransacked the car and made away with all the the documents , including Petitions filed by four (4) Parties namely; Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Party (APP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP)/two (2) Record Books/a Bag containing his personal items.”
The statement by Aya 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 the documents including Petitions filed by four (4) Parties namely Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Party (APP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP)/two (2) Record Books/a Bag containing his personal items. ”
Aya also frowned at series of distorted information on the incident, saying that a thorough investigation into the incident will set the records straight.
“The general public is advised to avoid statements that may prejudice ongoing investigation into the matter.
“The Command also appeals to anyone with useful information on the alleged incident to provide same to the Command.
“The public will be updated as investigation progresses,” Aya explained. (vitalnewsngr.com)