The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of four suspects in connection with last weekend’s attack on the convoy of Governor Umar Bago in the Bida local government area.
Among the arrested suspects is a Chairmanship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Abdulmalik Nagemu, who was linked to the crime.
Sources claimed that the unrest followed a failed cash-sharing exercise allegedly organised by the Governor ahead of the last Saturday local government elections where the Governor was said to have distributed money to only a few among hundreds who gathered at his residence, sparking outrage.
The youths reportedly destroyed the Governor’s billboards and vandalised several vehicles.
In a statement by the spokesman of the police, Superintendent Wasi’u Abiodun, the incident occurred on November 2, at about 1:45 p.m., when the Governor’s convoy departed Bida for Minna shortly after the Local Government Election.
According to the police statement, reports from the “B” Division, Bida, indicated that a group of miscreants and thugs launched an attack on the governor’s convoy using stones and other dangerous weapons.
Abiodun further disclosed that the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of A and B Divisions, Bida, promptly mobilised their men to the scene and dispersed the attackers with teargas, though several vehicles in the convoy were damaged during the confrontation.
He revealed that during the immediate pursuit, three suspects, Ali Mohammed and Adamu Hussain, both of Nasarafu area, Bida, and Isah Umaru of Darachita area, Bida, were arrested.
It was further gathered that preliminary investigations have named two additional suspects, Salihu Mohammed and Abdulrahman Baba, who are currently being tracked by the police.
The police added that all arrested suspects are assisting the police with vital information to identify and apprehend other culprits involved so as to bring all those responsible to justice.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
