Kogi Election: ‘Murder Of My Wife, Salome Abuh Was Planned’ – Husband Demands Justice Over Death of PDP Women Leader

The family of the late Hon Mrs Salome Acheju Abuh, the Women Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ochadamu Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, who was allegedly burnt to death by suspected political thugs, has called for justice in the case.

The family, in a statement issued by Elder Simeon Babani Seidu Abuh (JP), husband of the late PDP Women Leader, noted that the brutal murder of Mrs. Salome Abuh and the destruction of properties were premeditated.

The statement explained that the culprits were known to the community, stressing, “On Saturday, 16th of November 2019, at the Ochadamu Primary School Polling Unit, one Ocholi Edicha in the company of other boys told me that he was going to deal with my younger brother, Gowon Abuh, who is a strong supporter of the PDP, that He (Ocholi Edicha) and others were in the payroll of GYB 4+4.

“He (OCHOLI EDICHA) further said that this election is for the APC and there is nothing that anyone can do about it. I politely told him that there was no need for this that we are all brothers, we all drank the same flowing river, went to the same playing ground in the community and we shall still remain in the same community, politics notwithstanding.”

The husband of late Mrs Salome Acheju Abuh added, “After casting my ballots, I headed home, leaving my wife behind to watch the electoral process. After some time, My brother Gowon ran back home to inform me that “ Ocholi Edicha was beating my wife where she was sitting under a shade observing the process and when He (Gowon Abuh) and other people tried to intervene, He (Ocholi Edicha) attempted to stab him (Gowon Abuh) and he had to run back home.

“As we were still talking one Elder Samuel Salami Agbali brought my wife on his motorcycle to our compound and advised that we rush her to hospital. I took her to Holy Memorial Hospital Ochadamu where she was attended to by one Dr. Agama.”

He further explained, “After the election, I returned to Abuja where I reside leaving her behind to rest for few days as advised by the doctor. I was constantly on phone with her. On Monday, 18th of November at about 12am my younger brother from Lokoja, Pst. Mark Abuh, called me that there was trouble at home. That Ocholi Edicha and others were in a drinking joint close to our house boasting on how they were going to deal with Gowon, our younger brother who narrowly escaped from their attack on Saturday.

“According to his report Solomon, Gowon’s Son, overheard them boasting and pleaded with them on his father’s behalf to forget about the incident. At this point one of them, Zekeri Awalu, picked up a bottle and started pursing Solomon, while pursing Solomon he tripped and fell on his own knife which was stocked around his waist and unfortunately injured himself on the thigh while Solomon ran home to inform his father (Gowon Abuh) of what had ensued meanwhile, Zekeri Awalu was rushed to Holy Memorial Hospital at Ochadamu.”

He explained that after the conversation with his brother, pastor Mark Abuh, he immediately put a call home to Ojonugwa Alhassan, his cousin who told me he was at the hospital where the injured person was being attended to.

“According to him, the hospital, after administering first aid treatment was requesting for a police report before further treatment. While the doctors were waiting for the police report, friends of the injured got agitated and moved him to another hospital where he lost his life.

“When the news of his death filtered into the town, angry APC Supporters came to the town chanting GYB 4+4, and shooting sporadically. People scampered for their lives and the APC Supporters headed to my house where my wife was resting unaware of what was happening in the community, the supporters surrounded my house shooting sporadically and further set the house ablaze and burnt my wife to death and completely burnt down the entire buildings in my compound. Afterwards the APC supporters headed to four other houses in the community who are known PDP Supporters and burnt down their houses,” he explained.

“Let me conclude here, that the attack on my wife on Saturday was a premeditated one and carried out on Monday, 18th November 2019 when my wife and mother of my children were resting in our family house.

“I hereby appeal for justice to prevail over this gruesome murder of my wife and loss of properties,” he noted.