Hoodlums attack APC deputy governorship candidate’s home in Makurdi

Barely 24 hours after he was officially pronounced the running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Emmanuel Jime, hoodlums yesterday raided the home of Sam Ode in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Almost two months after Jime became APC governorship candidate, efforts to choose a running mate for him were deadlocked.

It took intervention of the party’s stakeholders in Benue South and its State Leader, Senator George Akume, to settle for Ode, a former Minister of State for Niger Delta.

But after his name was made public, hoodlums brandishing knives, axes, cutlasses and clubs suspected to be cultists stormed his HUDCO Quarters in Makurdi at 4 a.m yesterday.

Confirming the incident on phone to The Nation, Ode said he was not at home when the hoodlums stormed his house.

“My security guards told me that some men armed with knives, axe, clubs and other weapons forced their way into my house and asked after me, even though I was not at home. I suspect they were after my life,” he said.

The former minister said the matter was reported to security agencies.

Ode, who is also a former Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, was also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs before former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him Minister of State for Niger Delta.

He contested the 2015 governorship primary and lost.

He was a participant of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.

Police spokesman Moses Yamu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), could not be reached last night as his phone was switched off.