By Kamil Opeyemi
There was pandemonium on Saturday in the Anyigba area of Kogi state as a man alleged to have snatched a ballot box was gunned down immediately.
Though, the All Progressive Congress claimed that the man was one of its members in a statement made available to the NPO Reports, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) one of the many observer groups for the election, said the man was killed after his attempt to make away with a ballot box.
“An alleged leading political party thug was gunned down in Anyigba LGA, Kogi State in an attempt to disrupt the election by snatching the ballot box,” TMG said. The man was identified as a 35-year-old APC supporter, Umar Hassan, from the Agala Ogane Polling Unit, Anyigba.
NPO Reports that there was tension as SDP thugs allegedly went after the man killing him in the process.
It was learnt that An eye witness who identified himself simply as Adamu, told newsmen how the SDP thugs invaded the Polling Unit with sophisticated weapons, threatening to kill anyone who “doesn’t vote for the SDP”.
“It was like what we watch in horror movies as they invaded our Polling Unit with very dangerous weapons. Unfortunately, Hassan fell victim and he was gunned down.
“They kept chanting war songs that they will kill anyone who voted against the Igala Agenda. They targeted Hassan being an APC member.
“What surprised me most was that the Military guys that had been targeting APC supporters for arrest and harassment were not on ground to save Hassan’s life. It was so unfortunate”.
There was calm across many Polling Units in Anyigba until the gunmen stormed many units to fight anyone suspected to be an APC member.
Reports show that the poll has been peaceful so far in the Central and Western Senatorial Districts.
When contacted, the Spokesperson of the APC Governorship Campaign Council, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo condemned the attack and urged security agencies to fish out the killers immediately.
“The gruesome murder of Hassan Umar whose only sin was being an APC member is unacceptable. The security agents in the area should fish out the murderers immediately.
“In the 21st century, it is sad that people are still killed for supporting a particular political party. It is unacceptable and condemnable. We knew the only agenda of the SDP is to wage violence against our people. We must restore confidence in our electoral process”, he said.