By Ohuakanwa Chibuzo
The crisis gripping the All Progress Congress (APC) in Benue State has intensified, with anti-riot police personnel seizing control of the party’s secretariat. Early Friday morning witnessed a significant deployment of mobile and regular police units, alongside Civil Defence Corps and Livestock Guards, fortifying the secretariat’s perimeter and blocking access roads.
Law enforcement utilized operational vehicles to barricade all routes leading to the secretariat, effectively curtailing movement in the vicinity. The planned State Executive Council Meeting (SEC) and APC stakeholders gathering, organized by the Comrade Austin Agada-led executive committee, faced abrupt cancellation on police orders.
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In a letter dispatched to APC chairman Comrade Austin Agada, Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Adesina mandated the suspension of all political assemblies, including the SEC meeting, until further notice. The directive, co-signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Samuel Gimba, cited Governor Hyacinth Alia’s decree halting political activities and gatherings across the state amid escalating security concerns.
The decision underscores the precarious security climate prevailing in Benue, prompting stringent measures to maintain public order. Additional details on the unfolding situation are expected imminently.