Lawmaker representing Ushongo State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Abbas Akoso, has raised alarm over his safety in the aftermath of his loss at the recent election.
Narrating his ordeal, Akoso said since his loss, he has been receiving threats, and has even been “beaten up by a group of unknown armed men”, with strong warnings not to challenge the outcome of the polls.
In a statement, he recalled that during the election, his party supporters could not turn up to vote in his Mbayoun polling unit over threats issued to them.
After a failed attempt to assassinate him, Akoso said the assailants “promised” that next time, “They won’t make a mistake”. “I have not done anything wrong, I just want what is good for my people,” he said.
Akoso who was fortunately not at home on the day of the last attack, said he was informed by neighbours that the assailants stated that they were on a mission to wipe out him and his entire family.
The lawmaker who has since gone into hiding, says he now fears for his life, and is still recuperating from previous injuries sustained from earlier beatings. “They desperately want me dead. If you recall, my wife was captured and tortured, and my children almost kidnapped and killed”.
Precisely on May 30 this year, at about 10pm, armed men struck Hon. Akoso’s residence in search of him and his family.
A neighbour who narrated the ordeal on condition of anonymity, said the operation lasted for up to 30 minutes, with loud firing of gunshots.
