A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, Hajiya Memuna, narrowly escaped an attack on Sunday night in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area.

Memuna, who is the Woman Leader of the Obeya Kekele Polling Unit in Anyigba Ward, was reportedly targeted for her support of the APC candidate in the recent gubernatorial election, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo.

The APC campaign council, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, condemned the attack and called for an immediate investigation.

Fanwo alleges that Memuna was targeted due to her opposition to the “ethnic agenda” of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka.

“Memuna was attacked for supporting the candidate of Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo against the ethnic agenda of the SDP governorship candidate, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka,” Fanwo said.

He further alleges that this attack is part of a wider pattern of violence against APC supporters in Kogi East, alleging a “killer squad” operating under the direction of Ajaka’s campaign.

Fanwo also accuses security agencies of turning a blind eye to the alleged attacks and failing to protect citizens, and he notes a previous fatal attack in Kotonkarfe that reportedly went unpunished, emboldening further violence.

“The prevalent killing of APC supporters in Kogi East by the Muritala Yakubu Ajaka killer squad was one of the dark spots of the Kogi guber poll, which was largely free, fair and credible,

“Security agencies in the state gave the killer candidate and his party a free reign as they terrorised the Kogi East people for not subscribing to the ethnic agenda of Muritala Yakubu.”

He added that “the killing of an APC supporter in Kotonkarfe, which drew no consequences, has enlivened the audacity of Muritala Yakubu Ajaka and his killers to think they can always get away with acts of criminality as the heads of security agencies in the state have appeared helpless in defending and securing the people.”

According to him, the SDP has come out boldly to label security agencies as killers and outlaws without consequences, claiming that Ajaka is enjoying immunity granted to him solely by security agencies and is busy supervising the killing of innocent citizens of the state.

Fanwo then threatened to hold the Commissioner of Police and Director of the State Security Service accountable for any future attacks on their members.

He also demanded that Ajaka be arrested immediately, claiming that he is orchestrating the violence from behind the scenes.

“We call on the NSA, Inspector General of Police and the DG DSS to as a matter of urgency, order the immediate arrest of Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, the defeated candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the recently conducted Kogi Guber election, over the atrocities being perpetrated under the guise of politics by the bitter loser.”

SDP had yet to respond publicly to these accusations as of the time of writing this report. The police and security agencies have also made no official statements about the alleged attack or the broader allegations of political violence.