Thugs Attack Benue PDP Media Consultant, Burn Vehicle In Makurdi

Thugs Attack Benue PDP Media Consultant, Burn Vehicle In Makurdi
Attackers set his Peugeot car ablaze after he escaped unharmed.
Police confirmed report and said investigation into the incident has begun.

Suspected political thugs on Friday night attacked the newly appointed Benue State media consultant of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bemgba Iortyom, in Makurdi, setting his vehicle ablaze during the incident.

The attack occurred barely 24 hours after the Benue State Secretary of the PDP, Dan Nyikwagh, announced Iortyom’s appointment in a statement issued to journalists in the state capital.

EDITOR’S PICKS

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Iortyom, who spoke with journalists on Saturday, said he narrowly escaped the attack which happened along George Akume Way.

Recounting the incident, the PDP media consultant said he was ambushed by five assailants riding on two motorcycles while attempting to pull over to make a phone call.

“Last night, on George Akume Way, in the heart of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, I was attacked by unknown persons, and, though I managed to escape, my car, a Peugeot 406 Saloon, was set ablaze and burnt to ashes,” he said.

According to him, the attackers quickly blocked his vehicle and moved towards him carrying dangerous weapons.

“The assailants, numbering five, came on two motorcycles, and because I was in the process of pulling off the road to park and make a phone call, they blocked my path and, armed with short axes, descended on me,” he explained.

Iortyom said he escaped due to quick thinking, which enabled him to flee before the attackers could harm him.

“I give God Almighty the glory for quick thinking which enabled me to act fast by opening the door of my car and running away, before the hoodlums poured fuel on the car and set it ablaze,” he said.

He added that the attackers fled immediately after carrying out the act.

“They then mounted their bikes and went away, as my shouts and calls for help yielded nothing, with onlookers witnessing the scene without anything to do other than to urge me to run to safety. The whole incident unfolded relatively quickly,” he stated.

Iortyom said the incident had been reported to the police and investigations were ongoing.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Udeme Edet, confirmed the report and said the police had commenced investigation.

Edet said, “Since the victim has reported to the police, allow the police to go on with their investigation.”