Agatu killings politically motivated, says PDP

• Sheriff to write IGP on the crisis

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged yesterday that the attack on the people of Agatu in Benue State was politically motivated.

It declared that the killings and destruction ‎of property was a direct punishment meted to Agatu people for voting for the PDP in the February 20, 2015 rerun election in Benue South Senatorial district.

This emerged even as PDP National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, announced that he would not stay in office beyond the time stipulated by the constitution of the party‎.

He restated his commitment to the transparent conduct of PDP congresses and convention.

At the PDP national‎ secretariat in Abuja, visiting party leaders from Benue State told Sheriff that unknown persons had used helicopters to provide food and other essential items to the attackers before the killings commenced.
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Chairman of the Benue State chapter of the PDP, Emmanuel Agbo, who led other members of the State Working Committee on the solidarity visit, said that members of the party in Benue were being subjected to various forms of intimidation and harassment.

Agbo alleged that: “‎Senior officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led expeditions of violence, intimidation, harassment and electoral malpractice against the people of the zone. Several members of our party were beaten, severely injured and maimed while also having their properties worth millions of naira destroyed. It is noteworthy that in spite of these acts of brigandage, the people of Benue South stood their ground and voted massively to elect Senator David Mark as their senator.”

Sheriff announced that the PDP will take up all issues relating to the killings in Agatu with the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

“We will not allow our members to be tormented. Whoever loses election should not take laws into his hands. I will write to the IG of police and let him know all that you have raised,” he stated.

Agbo further stated that: “‎In the aftermath of the declaration of the results of the election, officials and members of APC have refused to accept defeat. They have resorted to threats of further violence and intimidation.

“We have also witnessed massive attacks on several communities in Agatu local council of the state that have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and property worth billions of naira. We are informed that during these attacks, which have been ongoing for the past three days, an helicopter flew over the area providing supplies to the attackers.”