Burning of PDP woman a reprisal attack- Police

Yusuf Bello|The Kogi police command on Wednesday said the burning of Salome Abuh, a woman leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Wada Aro, Ochadamu Ward in Ofu local government area of the state, was a reprisal attack by suspected thugs.

In a statement made available to newsmen, the state police public relation officer, William Aya, said there was a misunderstanding between one Awolu Zekeri, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and one Gowon Simeon, a member of the PDP, both of Ochadamu ward that lead to the death of one Abuh.

According to him, angry youths then mobilised themselves to Simeon’s home for a reprisal attack, where Abuh was killed.

The statement read, “Gowon Simeon stabbed Zekeri with a knife and he died on his way to hospital. As a result, angry youths in the area mobilised to the house of one Simeon Abuh of same address, who is an uncle to the suspect, set it ablaze, (and) thereby burnt one Salome Abuh, aged 60 years.”

“Three other houses were equally burnt.

“The corpse has been moved to the University Teaching Hospital Mortuary Anyigba for autopsy.”

The statement, however, stated that security operatives have been deployed in the area to prevent the break down of order while investigation is ongoing.

But reacting to the development, Faruk Adejoh-Audu, spokesman of PDP Wada/Aro campaign council, said thugs, who were chanting GYB 4+4, arrived Abuh’s house at about 2:00 pm on Monday and were shooting sporadically.

According to him, the thugs surrounded the house and blocked every exit from outside.

He said, “The Woman Leader of Wada Aro Campaign Council, Ochadamu Ward, Hon Mrs. Acheju Abuh was this afternoon burnt alive in her home by jubilant Bello supporters and thugs said to be celebrating his victory.”

“They then poured petrol on the building and set it ablaze as other terrorized villagers watched from hiding.”

Adejoh-Audu said the thugs waited and watched Abuh crying from inside the inferno until her voice died out, then left when the house and the victim were totally burnt.