Military Personnel Beat Benue Lawmaker To Stupor

Some military officers have reportedly beaten a lawmaker from Benue State to a stupor on Saturday morning at a hotel in the Gboko Local Government Area of the state.

According to report, the lawmaker was identified as Kpam Sokpo, representing Buruku Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

According to him, military personnel stormed the hotel where he was lodged at Gboko at about 2;30 am and attacked him for no reason.

Narrating his ordeal to pressmen in the state, the Benue lawmaker submitted that “I don’t know what came over them, I came to the hotel where I was staying in Gboko, Old Barn, around 2:30 am and I sat there with some of my friends.

“And shortly after, about five trucks filled with over 60 soldiers came to the place. When they alighted from their vehicles they just took the position.

“I got up from where I was sitting to do something and one of them approached me and asked why I was walking in the manner I was walking.

“And as I was talking he slapped me in the face. I asked why he did that, and I introduced myself as a House of Representatives member. I told him he did not know me and just slapped me in the face?

“Before I knew what was happening more than 30 of them just pounced on me using the butt of their guns to injure me. Some of the guns they used on me even broke into pieces. As I speak with you I have stitches on my face, on my head and I have all kinds of injuries on my body.

“While this was going on, their Commanding Officer came in and calmed the situation a bit. Shortly after they went on to harass me and collected everything in my car including every piece of paper.

“In fact, the one who started assaulting me threatened that he could even kill me. Unfortunately, I did not get their names because they removed their name tags before assaulting me.

“Believe me, I do not know why they did this to me. I have gone to the hospital to stitch the cuts and treat myself, but I have reported the matter to the Police and the Security Adviser to the Governor of Benue State.”

Meanwhile, it was gathered from Vanguard that the Benue State Police Commissioner, Wale Abass, said he was yet to receive the report of the incident.

While, the Public Relations of the 401 Special Force Brigade Makurdi, Capt. John Okozie said he would reach out to the personnel in Gboko to find out what actually happened.