Suspected political thugs set ablaze PDP women leader in Kogi

The Kogi State Police Command on Tuesday revealed how a female politician and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Ms. Salome Abuh, was on Monday burnt to death by rampaging political thugs.

According to the police, Abuh, who was the PDP women leader in Ochadamu Ward, Ofu local government area of the state, was sleeping in her home when the thugs set the building alight shortly before sunset on Monday.

The command’s spokesman, William Aya, said the woman’s corpse had been taken to the mortuary for autopsy.

He said: “It was a very unfortunate incident and the commissioner of police has ordered a thorough investigation to ensure that all those involved do not escape justice.”

According to the police spokesperson, a preliminary investigation on the killing showed that it was a reprisal attack for the killing of an All Progressives Congress (APC) supporter in the community.

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He added: “There was a misunderstanding between Gowon Simeon and Awolu Zakari, both members of the community. Mr. Simeon stabbed Mr. Zakari in the chest and he bled to death almost instantly.”

Aya said Simeon was a known PDP supporter in the community, while Zakari identified with the APC.

He said after the APC supporter was confirmed dead, his group staged a reprisal attack against Simeon.

“They arrived at his (Simeon) uncle’s house where they believed he was hiding and set it on fire. Unfortunately, Ms. Abuh was sleeping inside the house and she was burnt alive,” the command’s spokesman concluded.

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