Post-election violence has claimed the life of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and women leader of the Wada/Aro PDP Governorship Campaign Council in Kogi State, Mrs Acheju Abuh.
Abuh of Ochadamu Ward was reportedly burnt alive on Monday afternoon as some thugs believed to be supporters of All Progressives Congress (APC) locked her in, set fire to her house after spraying it with petrol.
In an orgy by the supporters and thugs, they combed the community looking for “opposition members’’ and descended on the woman for her role in the November 16 governorship poll.
In the melee, the jubilant APC supporters, who are mostly youths, were brandishing their arms and other dangerous weapons shooting sporadically into the air, “celebrating Gov. Yahaya Bello’s re-election’’.
“Chanting GYB 4+4, the thugs arrived at Hon (Mrs) Abuh’s house at about 2pm, surrounded it and bolted every exit and escape routes from outside.
“They then poured petrol on the building and set it ablaze as other terrorized villagers watched from hiding helplessly,’’ a witness said.
As she attempted to escape through a window, she was prevented by burglar proof while gun shots were fired in her direction, he said.
“The blood-thirsty thugs waited, shooting and watching with relish while Mrs Abuh cried from inside the inferno until her voice was gone and the house left in ashes.’’
Residents have expressed fears that the killing spree may escalate over the night.
An elderly man who spoke from his hideout said: “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 the candidate of 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.’’
Mr Faruk Adejoh-Audu, the spokesman and Head, Communications Wada/Aro Campaign Council, confirmed the incident in a statement given to Persecondnews.
The Kogi State Police Command has yet to announce any arrest in connection with the attack as at the time of filling this report.
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