PDP, group raise alarm over attempted terror attack on Atiku

• Ex-VP hails security agents for foiling attack, arresting four suspects

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed alarm over a reported foiled terrorist attack on its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and other sensitive locations in Yola, Adamawa State.

National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement, in Abuja, yesterday, hinged the party’s concern on suspicion that it could be part of a larger plot to frustrate the move to reclaim its “stolen” presidential mandate.

Ologunagba said: “The PDP insists that by the confession of the arrested assailants, the plot has the pawmarks of a sponsored attempt on the life of Atiku Abubakar, ostensibly by forces who are unsettled by his bid to retrieve his mandate at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

“Our party believes that the intent of the sponsors of this evil plot is to silence our presidential candidate, massacre innocent Nigerians and cause chaos, confusion and anarchy in the polity.

“The PDP asks, is this foiled attack on Atiku Abubakar and sensitive locations in Yola, Adamawa connected to the recent APC’s threats of chaos and anarchy in the country, if the PEPC upholds the clear provisions of Section 134 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) with regard to mandatory and statutory requirements for which a candidate in a presidential election can be declared winner?

“Could it also be a plan to orchestrate a sense of insecurity in the country, starting in Adamawa State, the home state of our presidential candidate, so as to justify the imposition of a state of emergency in Adamawa State as a precursor to a declaration of a state of emergency throughout the country?”

Also, a non-governmental organisation, Face Of Waziri-Nigeria (FOWN) described the attack as a grand plot to assassinate Atiku.

The group said way too many attacks on Atiku are targeted at debarring him from reclaiming the mandate rightfully handed to him by Nigerians.

According to Mr. Bukky Adeniyi, FOWN’s Director-General, in a statement, yesterday, the attempt on Atiku’s properties in Adamawa brings to the fore the fact that his good fortune at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal is already sending jitters down the Presidency.”

Meanwhile, Atiku has commended security agencies for foiling what would have been an attack on his Yola residence by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Atiku Media Office, yesterday.

The statement reads in part: “We wish to alert the Nigerian public that at about 9:44 pm on Sunday, July 23, 2023 a man seeking to confirm the residence of Atiku Abubakar in Yola was apprehended at the gate of the residence.

“The man, who was apprehended by security operatives at the residence of Atiku Abubakar, was later handed over to the police.

“Upon further interrogation by the police, the suspect identified himself as 29-year-old Jubrila Mohammed and confessed to being a Boko Haram member from Damboa in Borno State.

“The suspect also informed the Police that he and his colleagues, who were later arrested too, intended to attack organisations associated with Atiku Abubakar and some other sensitive locations in Yola.

“All four suspects have been handed over to military authorities. We commend the police for the work they continue to do in this particular investigation. We further ask that other relevant security agencies remain on top of their brief.”