THE Benue State Police Command has said that a group of hoodlums on Monday, April 8, set ablaze the Gboko residence of a former governor of the state, the late Aper Aku.
Aku was governor of the state between 1979 and 1984.
The Command’s spokesman, Sewuese Anene, disclosed this on Tuesday, April 9, in Makurdi, but declined further comments on the incident, saying investigations were ongoing to unravel those behind the crime.
However, daughter of the former governor, Miss Deborah Aku, disclosed that Police personnel rescued six of them from the building shortly before the hoodlums set the house on fire, lamenting that the entire house, including properties worth millions, were burnt down.
She explained that trouble began last month when one man came to the house with a cutlass and threatened to deal with them if any of his goats died again, claiming that he was told that his goat died after drinking water from the Akus’ residence.
Deborah stated: “My mum was not around, when she returned, we informed her of what happened and she reported the matter to the Police. When the Police first came, he resisted arrest, but was later arrested few days after.
“When he was arrested, his father mobilised his people, numbering over 50 to our house, accusing us of kidnapping his son.
“While they were in our house, they destroyed some things. When the Police arrived, they arrested his father and later the matter was charged to court.
“The Judge granted them bail on April 2, adjourned the case to July 1 and directed that the matter be settled out of court.
“They promised bringing their lawyer for the settlement meeting only for us to be attacked again.”
He recounted that the house was attacked between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Monday, adding that all the six occupants were trapped inside the house.
“Over 30 of them besieged out home. When we noticed that their visit was not friendly, we locked all the doors and called the Police.
“Before the Police arrived, they started destroying the house, killed our dog, broke into the pig pen and took all the pigs. They also destroyed our mother’s car.
“The Police arrived and were able to rescue us. We left with the Police with only what we were putting on. While we were on our way with the Police, they set the house ablaze with everything inside.
“The Police came in two trucks, but the boys were many and even attacked them too.
“On Monday when the incident occurred, the Police were only able to rescue us from the house before it was burnt down. If not for them, we would have probably been burnt inside the house. We were six inside the house.
“We are waiting for the Police to carryout their investigations. We have also reported the matter to all relevant authorities, including the Governor and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, because this is his constituency,” Deborah said.
