Suspected arsonists set ablaze PDP chieftain's house in Benue

The home of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Benue State, Hon. Shagbaor Akaa Lim, has been burnt down by suspected arsonists.

The incident happened on Thursday, November 24, barely 24 hours after Lim received a car gift from Governor, Samuel Ortom.

Lim, a supporter of the Benue governor was still in Makurdi hours after he was gifted with a brand new Sharon vehicle when news filtered in that his residence in Gboko East of Gboko Local Government Area of the state had been set ablaze.

Witnesses said that no life was lost apart from property destroyed.

The witnesses alleged that the fire, which completely raised a portion of the house was the handiwork of some persons, noting that it couldn’t have been caused by an electrical fault since there was no power supply to the building.

They alleged that Lim’s political opponents may have a hand in the fire incident because he contested the seat of Buruku Constituency for the state House of Assembly at the primaries and lost.

"Some people are angry with him for being on Ortom’s side. They expected him to have cut the ties in the wake of the rivalry between the governor and some members of the party," a witness who preferred anonymity said.

Speaking to journalists, Lim said that he was grateful to God that no life was involved in the fire outbreak, adding that he suspected the incident to be the handiwork of opposition.

Lim said he couldn’t immediately finger those behind the act, adding that the arsonists burnt the house after they had vandalised property worth millions of naira.