Kogi Election: Abubakar Audu declared wanted

Chris Agbambu, Abuja - 30.03.2008

THE All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Governorship Candidate in Saturday's election in Kogi State, Prince Audu Abubakar, has been summoned to Force headquarters tomorrow for allegedly sponsoring political thuggery.

Also, a retired colonel, Suleiman Babanawa has been declared wanted by the police high command for promoting acts of lawlessness, hooliganism and thuggery in Kogi State.

The Inspector-General of police (IGP), Mike Okiro declared these measures yesterday while parading 16 suspects including a woman in Otukpo, Benue State for planning to unleash terror in Kogi during the rescheduled governorship election.

According to him, the men and a woman had allegedly lodged at Leach Hotel in Oturkpo, when information got to the divisional police officer that some strangemen were lodging in the hotel.

Okiro disclosed that on interrogation, the suspects confirmed that they were hired by one Colonel Suleiman Babanawa (rtd) who had already been declared wanted by Kogi State police command for promoting acts of lawlessness, hooliganism and thuggery in the state.

He said that the suspects confirmed that the said colonel provided them with the vehicles, explosives, arms and ammunition and other instruments of violence with which they were to go to Kogi State and disrupt yesterday's election.

Okiro announced that the driver of one of the white station wagon car, was killed during an exchange of gun fire with the police.

He also exhibited five AK 47 rifles, four automatic pump action guns, one big bag containing explosives of fully charged dynamites, one axe, three new cutlasses, 42 live ammunition for Marakov pistol and 39 unexpended catridges recovered from the suspects.

Also recovered are five AK 47 magazines, one SMG magazine, assorted charms, one brown cooler, six bags containing assorted items, a large quantity of posters of Audu Abubakar, one black Toyota Landcruiser jeep, one blue peugeot 504 saloon car registration No. Kogi AL 122 LKJ containing Prince Abubakar's posters, one red Honda Reg. No. Lagos AU 423 BDG, one Acura Legend dark ash colour with reg. No. Lagos BH 395 GCE, one white peugeot 504 station wagon with Reg. No. Kogi AJ 420 FKJ containing the recovered arms.

The IGP announced that high powered investigation has commenced into the matter with a view to identifying other sponsors no matter how highly placed for possible prosecution.