Kogi Polls: Tinubu Urged to Remove Navy Commander Over Alleged Attack on SDP’s Campaign Director
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to immediately reassign Navy Commander Charles Akalieze and his special task force from Kogi state
- The Igala Vanguard group made the call in a statement issued in Lokoja, on Wednesday, November 8
- Lawrence Ankpa, who signed the statement, claimed Navy Commander Akalezie's men attacked the residence of the SDP campaign Director General
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Kogi state, Lokoja - The Igala Vanguard has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to relieve the Chief of Naval Staff and Kogi State Navy Commander Charles Akalieze of his positions, saying it was time he carried out the action to save the lives and properties of the, especially Kogi East.
Lawrence Ankpa, who made the call in a statement released on Wednesday, November 8, alleged that Charles was orchestrating actions detrimental to the well-being of the people of Kogi.
Source: Facebook
Ankpa alleged that on the 7th day of November 2023, in the early hours, political associates of Yahaya Bello, operating under the command of Navy Commander Akalieze and his Special Boat Service (SBS) personnel, forcefully entered the residence of Sheikh Jibrin Usman, the Director General of the Muritala Ajaka campaign organization for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Anyigba.
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The statement read in part:
"A confrontation with the police guarding Sheikh Jibrin's residence ensued, and allegations have surfaced that Commander Akalieze and his team were responsible for the deaths of at least five innocent individuals, including some police officers.
"His group took away several young individuals from Sheikh Jibrin's residence, who were reportedly seen being led into the bush, stripped of their clothing, along the Okabo-Anyigba road shortly after leaving the scene."
"The primary concern raised by the Igala Vanguard is not solely the executive recklessness of Governor Yahaya Bello but also the involvement of Nigerian Navy forces, and Commander Akalieze, in particular, in political criminal activities orchestrated by the Governor.
"Astute observers of Kogi's political landscape are aware of a recurring pattern wherein Governor Yahaya Bello has allegedly employed Commander Akalieze and his SBS troops to intimidate and eliminate political opponents, many of whom are labelled as criminals and terrorists.
"To comprehend the full extent of this situation, it is vital to revisit how the Nigerian Navy Special Forces became entangled with Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
"The SBS forces were originally deployed to Kogi State in 2020 after the Nigerian Army, under the leadership of the former Chief, General Burutai (Retired), withdrew all Army troops from internal security duties.
"This withdrawal aimed to strengthen efforts in the war against insurgency and banditry in the North East and North West regions."
Commander Akalieze accused of being Bello's security detail
Meanwhile, Ankpa further alleged that Commander Akalieze and his troops had become part of Governor Bello's security detail,
According to him, Kogi East residents are demanding a clear explanation for this deviation from standard procedure.
Political thugs beat SDP chairman to coma
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that some suspected political thugs have attacked Pastor Sunday Atabo, the zonal chairman of the SDP in Kogi state.
Pastor Atabo was attacked at his country home in Aja-Odi Agojoeju, Ofu local government area, on Saturday night, October 21.
The hoodlums, who wielded dangerous weapons such as AK-47s, cutlasses and rods, invaded the SDP zonal chairman's house and beat him to a coma.
APC, SDP supporters engage in gun battle in Kogi
In a related development, there was pandemonium in the Idah Local Government area of Kogi state as the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the SDP reportedly engaged in a gun battle.
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The clash which occurred on Wednesday, October 18, left many people injured.
It was gathered that a police officer and some others sustained bullet wounds and vehicles were damaged.
Source: Legit.ng
