Kogi: Why my wife was murdered – husband of slain PDP Women Leader

Husband of Mrs Salome Abuh, the Women Leader of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) in Ochadamu, Ofu LGA of Kogi State, who was
allegedly killed and set ablaze in her home by suspected political
thugs, Elder Simeon Abuh, has called for justice in the case.

The family, in a statement signed by the bereaved husband, noted
that the brutal murder of Mrs Salome Abuh and the destruction of
properties were premeditated.

The culprits, they said, were known to members of the
community.

The statement read: “On Saturday, 16th of November 2019, at the
Ochadamu Primary School Polling Unit, one, Someone in the company
of other boys told me that he was going to deal with my younger
brother, Gowon Abuh, who is a strong supporter of the PDP. That he
and others were on the payroll of GYB 4+4.

“He further said that this election is for the APC and there is
nothing that anyone can do about it. I politely told him that there
was no need for this, that we are all brothers, we all drank the
same flowing river, went to the same playing ground in the
community and we shall still remain in the same community, politics
notwithstanding.”

“After casting my ballot, I headed home, leaving my wife behind
to watch the electoral process. After some time, my brother, Gowon
ran back home to inform me that some people were beating my wife
where she was sitting under a shade observing the process and when
he (Gowon Abuh) and other people tried to intervene, they attempted
to stab him and he had to run back home.

“As we were still talking, one Elder Samuel Salami Agbali
brought my wife on his motorcycle to our compound and advised that
we rush her to hospital. I took her to Holy Memorial Hospital,
Ochadamu, where she was attended to by one Dr Agama.

“After the election, I returned to Abuja, where I reside,
leaving her behind to rest for few days as advised by the doctor. I
was constantly on phone with her.

“On Monday, 18th of November at about 12am my younger brother
from Lokoja, Pastor Mark Abuh, called me that there was trouble at
home. That thugs were in a drinking joint close to our house
boasting on how they were going to deal with Gowon, our younger
brother who narrowly escaped from their attack on Saturday.

“According to his report Solomon, Gowon’s son, overheard them
boasting and pleaded with them on his father’s behalf to forget
about the incident. At this point one of them, picked up a bottle
and started pursuing Solomon, while pursuing Solomon, he tripped
and fell on his own knife, which was stucked around his waist, and
unfortunately injured himself on the thigh, while Solomon ran home
to inform his father (Gowon Abuh) of what had ensued. Meanwhile,
Zekeri Awalu was rushed to Holy Memorial Hospital at Ochadamu,” it
added.

He explained that after the conversation with his brother,
Pastor Mark Abuh, he immediately put a call home to Ojonugwa
Alhassan, a cousin, who informed him that he was at the hospital
where the injured person was being attended to.

According to him: “The hospital, after administering first aid
treatment requested for a police report before further treatment.
While the doctors were waiting for the police report, friends of
the injured got agitated and moved him to another hospital where he
lost his life.

“When the news of his death filtered into the town, angry APC
supporters came to the town chanting GYB 4+4, and shooting
sporadically. People scampered for safety and the APC supporters
headed to my house where my wife was resting, unaware of what was
happening in the community. The supporters surrounded my house,
shooting sporadically and further set the house ablaze and burnt my
wife to death and completely burnt down the entire buildings in my
compound.

“Afterwards, the APC supporters headed to four other houses in
the community, who are known PDP supporters and burnt down their
houses.”