Police confirm attack on SDP rally in Kogi

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the alleged attack on the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)’s campaign rally at Koton-Karfe last Friday in the state.

The campaign train of the SDP governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, was reported to have come under attack by the hoodlums at Koton-Karfi, on Friday around 10 a.m. while in the town for an electioneering campaign.

In the melee that followed, a lady was hit by bullets and died instantly; and campaign property like canopy, chairs, musical equipment, and its likes were also reportedly destroyed.

Also, Daily Trust gathered that on Saturday, the chairman of Kogi Local Government Area received serious injuries in the ensuing confusion. He is said to be in a Lokoja hospital for treatment.

The police spokesman, SP William Aya, said: “The Kogi State Police Command received a report of an alleged attack on the SDP campaign at Koton-Karfe where some persons were said to have been injured in the process through political violence.

“The CP of Kogi State Command, CP Bethrand C. Onuoha psc(+) wishes to sympathise with all victims of political violence in the state.

“We condemn in strong terms some politicians whose stock-in-trade is violence and who have taken it upon themselves to cause mayhem and heat up the state through their unguarded utterances and unregulated activities.”

He said the command is set to investigate all the political crises to uncover the culprits behind them for the law to take its course; even as the command warned politicians to play the game by its rule to avoid crises.