Amos Aar
THE CHAIRMAN of Gboko LGA of Benue State, Mr Abraham Agber, has reportedly been arrested and bundled to Abuja by security operatives over alleged plot to assassinate the speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh.
Vanguard Newspaper reported that armed men picked the chairman from a popular Gboko hotel last Friday night shortly after he held a meeting with his aides.
A close source was quoted by Vanguard as saying that “…armed security personnel stormed the hotel, (name withheld) at about 11pm on Friday, January 13, 2024, when he had just finished meeting with his staff.
“They went straight to his room door, banged and threatened to break the door if he did not open the door. He complied and they entered and ransacked the room after which they took him away.”
Vanguard further reported that the speaker of the state assembly, Hon. Dajoh, who hails from Gboko LGA and represents Gbemacha state constituency, confirmed the arrest of the chairman over the plot but distanced himself from the arrest.
“Does the speaker have the right to order the arrest of a Council Chairman without the consent of the Governor?
RELATED STORY: Rumours Of Impeachment Of Benue Speaker Thicken As Akume-Alia Power Tussle Deepens
“Even at that, you people should know that there could be something grievous before that can happen.
“There was an intelligence report from the Force Headquarters that I should be assassinated, the Governor and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) are aware of it. It is not new to me, I didn’t report him anywhere.
“There was conversation between him (Council Chairman) and someone and IGP told the Governor what was happening in his state.
“It was established and I was told of what was happening around me, they would have done it without me knowing.
“Even the Police Commissioner called me to give me more men but I told him I was okay with the ones I have”, the speaker was quoted to have replied, adding: “I will be going to Abuja on Thursday where the Council Chairman has been taken to, they said I should come.”
ALSO READ: Spokesman Confirms Gov. Alia’s Rift With SGF Akume, Bashes NASS Members Over Accusations
Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police, (SP) Catherine Anene, however said she was not aware of the chairman’s arrest according to the report.National Record had reported on January 9, 2024 that the feud between Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and his godson, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Benue State governor, over who wields ultimate political power in Benue State had entered another level with growing speculations of a thickening plot to impeach the speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Dajoh, when the House would resumed sitting after the Christmas and New Year holidays.