Three policemen officially assigned to provide security for the campaign team of the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in Kogi State, Murtala Ajaka were gruesomely murdered by their fellow security operatives who stormed the residence of the party’s Campaign Director in search of political thugs at Anyigba Tuesday morning.

The Director of New Media for the MuriSam Campaign Council of the SDP, Comrade Isaiah Davies Ijele and five supporters of the party present at the time of the raid on the residence of the campaign DG, Sheik Ibrahim Jibrin, were reportedly taken away and the party said they could not be reached by press time.

The SDP governorship candidate, Ajaka confirmed the casualty figure from the early morning attack during a Channels Television programme Tuesday night, alleging that the attack was sponsored by Governor Yahaya Bello as part of the series of political violence targeted at his campaign team.

Ajaka said he had formerly reported the killings and abduction of members of his campaign team to the police authorities expressed the hope that the perpetrators of the evil act would be brought to book.

One of the police officers killed on Tuesday was identified as Inspector Samson Ubile Atabo officially attached to the SDP Campaign DG, Sheik Jibrin. He was shot dead by the security men and some persons identified as All Progressives Party, APC thugs at the Campaign DG’s residence in Anyigba.

The Advocate learnt that the security operatives and hoodlums who attacked the house at about 6am  also took away the corpse of the police inspector and other victims from the scene.  Though they could not be immediately identified, reports said three others shot and taken away were believed to be security men on duty.

According to a release by Faruk Adejoh-Audu, the spokesman, Muri/Sam Gubernatorial Campaign of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the hoodlums were a “rogue force” allegedly put together by Governor Yahaya Bello ahead of the Saturday governorship election in the state.

Adejoh-Audu said, “A rogue force assembled by the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bethrand Unuoha on behalf of the governor, killed a serving policeman while attacking the home of the Director-General of the SDP Campaign Council for Kogi State, Sheik Ibrahim Jibrin with an Armoured Personel Carrier (APC) at Anyigba this morning.

“The rogues force made up of thugs led by one Friday Makama officially declared wanted by a Federal High Court, one Supol Ojo of the Lokoja Mopol office and navy mercenaries led by N.U Akalezi of the Nigerian Navy killed the police guard, officer Atabor at about 6:00am this morning.

“The rogue force which reportedly included DSS operatives contributed by Deputy Director General of the Service who is in Lokoja acting in a lower responsibility as director, Mr Tosin Ajayi relentlessly attacked for over one hour during several persons were shot but officer Atabor was confirmed killed on the spot.

“The APC broke down the gate of Sheikh’s County home to gain access to the compound before releasing the rogue force who opened fire indiscriminately killing Atabor while the other guards ran for cover.

“They took away the corpse of policeman Atabor and about six other persons among whom are believed to be four policemen on official duty.

“It is also feared that our campaign Head of New Media Comrade I D Ijele may have also been abducted. He was last heard from at 6: 00am this morning while the attack was in progress.

“The rogue force is still prowling around Anyigba with the Armoured Personnel Carrier ( APC) as at the time of writing this statement.

“The police in Kogi just like they did during the 2019 Governorship Elections when they procured a helicopter to shoot at voters are executing Bello’s desperate plans to overwhelm the will of the people. The attack using a rogue force of thugs and mercenaries Navy was deliberately designed to commence few days to elections.

“It is our information that (CP) Bethrand Unuoha and some other compromised security chiefs in Kogi will sustain this sporadic attacks on our Campaign leadership and supporters particularly in Kogi East until the day of election.

“This is to achieve Bello’s plot to suppress the voter’s turnout in Kogi East which he believed is a stronghold of the SDP. The Muri/Sam Campaign Council is once more calling on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to transfer this commissioner who is an eager enforcer of Bello’s desperate violent schemes to allow for a free and fair election in Kogi State.”

Speaking on the security operation that claimed some lives on Tuesday, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, said those killed  were political thugs who engaged the security operatives in a gun duel.

He wrote: “Based on series of credible Intels on the repeated/recurring incidences of violence in Kogi East Senatorial District, which recently led to an attack on a Police Team and disarming and snatching of one AK47 Rifle from one Policeman, early this morning, Tuesday 07/11/2023, a Special Joint Operation involving the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was carried out on building where Political Thugs are being housed by Political Parties.

“During the Cordon and Search Operation, the Team, even after identifying themselves came under serious gun fire and in response three of the Political Thugs were gunned down and Two AK47 Rifles recovered while two members of the Team sustained gunshot injuries and seven suspects arrested.

“To this end, to make for a peaceful Election in the State, the Raids on suspected Criminal/Thugs hideouts will be sustained to deny them safe heavens to operate. The ongoing operation will be sustained until after the Election, please.”

Aya was silent on the party’s claim that Police Inspector Atabor and two others officers were killed during the raid as he described the three victims as “political thugs”.

The Advocate reports that the Nigerian Army had last weekend commenced deployment of soldiers and patrol vehicles to different parts of Kogi State including the university town of Anyigba and they were seen on video conducting patrol activities in some towns on Tuesday to provide the needed security for lives and property during the election.

The police authorities also announced on Tuesday, the deployment of 40,000 police men to the state for election duty.