The Commissioner of Police Kogi State Command, Bethrand Onuoha, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department to commence a thorough, diligent and wholistic investigation into alleged attack on the SDP Campaign team at Koton-Karfe, where some persons were said to have been injured.
The CP further directed investigation into accusations and counter-accusations on all the Political Parties and Actors with a view to bringing all offenders to book.
In a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, the Police Command said it received a report on alleged attack on the SDP Campaign team at Koton-Karfe and expressed sympathy with all victims of political violence in the State while condemning in strong terms some politicians whose stock in trade is to cause violence and mayhem through their unguarded utterances and unregulated activities.
He attributed the instances of violence in parts of Kogi state to the failure of most political actors to honour invitations and partake in series of stakeholder discussions and interactions where issues bordering on security and the need to conduct political activities as enshrined in the Electoral Act are discussed.
CP Onuoha explained that several invitations have been extended to the SDP and ADC Candidates for interaction and consultation with the Police to shed light, provide explanations, and give their own side of the story on petitions written against them to no avail.
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The police commissioner also noted that while other Parties have been carrying the Police along in their activities, the SDP Candidate has consistently and vehemently refused to honour any of Police invitations for investigation or inform the Commissioner of Police or the Command while embarking on political rallies to enable the Police provide adequate security coverage.
He commended the Chairmen and Candidates of the other Political Parties that have continued to honour Police Invitations to discuss petitions and/or allegations with the Police, and other salient issues germane to peaceful campaigns, and that of the inter-agency consultative committee on election security.
While assuring all the political parties of the Command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of all lives and property in the State before, during, and after the November 11 governorship election, the police commissioner however warned all the Political Parties in the State and their supporters to play by the Rules and stop heating up the State as anyone caught disrupting the prevailing peace will be made to face the full wrath of the Law.
The CP appealed to the Political Actors to give peace a chance by conducting themselves in a peaceful manner and shunning all acts capable of truncating the tranquility and unity of Kogi State.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
