The Benue State Police Command on Saturday said provocative songs by the All Progressives Congress caused the crisis in Gbamjiba, headquarters of the Guma Local Government Area of the state.
The leadership of the state APC accused the People’s Democratic Party of sponsoring armed militias to disrupt its governorship campaign on Friday.
Secretary, Jime governorship campaign, Prof. Eugine Aliegba, and a member representing Guma/Makurdi in the House of Representatives, Dickson Takirgh, accused the PDP-led government of mobilising militias to disrupt the campaign in Gbamjiba.
The duo alleged that several persons were injured and five persons missing in the crisis alleged to have been masterminded by the PDP thugs. Gbamjiba is the country home of Governor Samuel Ortom.
But a statement by the command’s spokesman, DSP Moses Yamu, stated that the PDP supporters protested when the APC members played provocative songs at the Government Secondary School, Gbajimba, venue of the APC campaign.
“This resulted in hurling of stones and other objects and the destruction of campaign posters by supporters of both parties. No gunshot was fired by anyone and no casualty was recorded. It, however, took the prompt intervention of the men of the command led by the area commander of Makurdi Area Command to disperse the crowd which was almost becoming riotous,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Samuel Ortom, on Saturday, distanced himself from the disruption of the APC campaign on Friday.
Ortom, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Tahav Agerzua, noted that it was not in the character of the governor to promote acts capable of disrupting peace.
The governor said no one hindered the party from using the IBB Square, Makurdi, for the campaign.
