The Arewa Defenders Forum (ADF) has said that it taken stock of events unfolding in Kogi State in the buildup to the forthcoming November, 2023 governorship in the state, urging the police to arrest the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Murtala Yakubu Ajaka and other alleged “authors of mindless violence and bring them to justice to serve justice to the victims and their families”.

The ADF noted especially, what it described as “the unrelenting disturbances created by certain interest groups in the led by the main challenger to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Muritala Yakubu, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the form of incitement to violence by making unguarded and inflammatory rhetoric.”

In a statement signed by its chairman, Abdulfatah Salmonu , the group said that the “embers of the recent violence that resulted in the killing of several APC supporters and other innocent people as confirmed by the police were ignited and incessantly fanned by the inciting and provocative utterances of Yakubu and other authors of mindless violence who see power as an end in itself.”

According to the statement, the “unprovoked attacks and killings of opposition supporters have resulted from the hate campaigns and propaganda being conducted by those identified as perpetrators of violence led by Yakubu, who are relentlessly pursuing this agenda of destruction and collective mayhem.

“We are worried also that weeks after the police have accused Yakubu of being involved in the killing of the supporters and undermining security efforts, yet he remains free.

“This lack of action sends a message that those in power are above the law and undermines public trust in the justice system.

“We demand swift action from the police to arrest Yakubu and other authors of mindless violence and bring them to justice to serve justice to the victims and their families.

“This is necessary because a man whose conducts the police said, continue to jeopardize security efforts in the state, by moving around with a retinue of political thugs armed to the teeth cannot be allowed to move about freely”, the Arewa Defenders Forum stated.

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