Kogi gov’ship: Police dismiss SDP’s claim of plots to arrest, detain members

The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr Berthrand Onuoha has dismissed claims by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) that some key members of the party were targeted for arrest and detention ahead of the November 11 governorship election in the state.

A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP William Aya, described the allegation as “Totally false, malicious, pretentious, and highly mischievous.”

The Kogi State chapter of the SDP had alleged that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Berthrand Onuoha initiated a plot to frame-up some SDP members in the state with fictitious allegations and arrest them.

The Director Communications of the SDP candidate, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, Faruk Adejo-Audu made the allegation in a statement yesterday in Lokoja.

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He said the state Commissioner of Police,  Mr Onuoha Bethrand, allegedly acting on the directive of the rival party and power that be, had concluded plans to come out with  “All manners of trumped-up offences to enable him embark on a massive crack down of our supporters.”

The opposition party alleged that the planned attack was targeted against party members who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the SDP in the state.

The SDP said, “The plotters have supplied a roll call of major supporters of Alhaji Ajaka to Mr Unuoha, the Commissioner of Police who is set to deploy a squad of policemen supported by the rival party’s thugs, for the assignment.

“We are by this statement calling on the Inspector General of Police, the Police Service Commission and the Minister for Police Affairs to step in and save our souls.”

But the Police said the statement remains a figment of the imagination of Faruk Adejoh-Audu and his political candidate, Yakubu Ajaka.”

It added, “The SDP candidate and his Campaign Organisation should leave the police alone and focus on issue-based campaigns and soliciting for support from the electorate instead of resorting to cheap blackmail, bullying and arm-twisting for political sympathy from the public.”