Audu, ex-Kogi gov, escapes assassination

Bola Badmus, Abuja - 04.01.2008

FORMER governor of Kogi State and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) governorship candidate in the last general elections, Prince Abubakar Audu, has cried to President Umaru Yar’Adua to take very urgent step to provide him with security, saying his life is under threat.

Prince Audu, who reportedly escaped an attempt on his life at Ayangba Township Stadium where he was a special guest of honour at the weekend, the second in six months, after the one in Jos last June, said he was soon to meet with President Yar’Adua and the National Security Adviser, Major General Sarki Muktar (rtd).

The former governor said he had already complained to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mike Okiro, over the incident which took place on December 31 during the annual Igala Cultural Development Association Day, that the withdrawal of his security meant that the police authorities wanted him dead.

The former governor raised the alarm on Wednesday night at his Abuja residence while addressing newsmen shortly after he arrived from Kogi State.

“I have to cry out because my life is in danger, I have to cry out now,” the former governor said, pointing out that the latest attempt on his life occurred at Ayangba Stadium, where four of his vehicles including his bullet-proof Ford Jeep were shot at.

According to the former governor, who conducted newsmen round his bulletproof jeep that was shot and vandalised, thugs blocked the gate of the stadium with government cars to prevent his entry and shot sporadically into the air and at the jeep in which he was.

He said the incident happened in the presence of dignitaries including the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, and the commissioner of police.

Prince Audu stated that the incident came a few days after security men guarding him were reduced by the state police command allegedly on the orders of the state governor.

The former governor, who said he was not deterred by the latest attempt to snuff life out of him, explained that all he wanted was the whole world to know that his life was in danger and the authorities should, therefore, come to his assistance.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested one of the suspects, Alapa Anebi, who has since been brought to Abuja for further interrogation.

The suspect confessed that he participated in this incident together with some people now at large, saying they were given N500,000 to carry out the act.

All efforts to get the side of the state government proved abortive as several calls to the lines of the Chief Press Secretary to the governor did not go through.

The text message sent to the line requesting for their reaction was also not replied.