Who Set Aper Aku’s Residence Ablaze?

What was the motive of those who sent hoodlums to set ablaze the residence of the first civilian Governor of Benue State, the late Chief Aper Aku, in the Gboko area of the state? This is the question investigators should be racking their brains to unravel.

The worsening state of insecurity in the country, especially in Benue State assumed a dangerous dimension on Monday when hoodlums stormed the residence of the former governor without any provocation and razed it to ashes in broad daylight.

That the incident happened without the presence of policemen to stop the arsonists, showed how security agents have become overwhelmed by the insecurity in the country.

Has Nigeria become so unsafe that hoodlums can mobilise unprovoked and set ablaze the residence of a former governor while policemen watch helplessly? 

The late governor’s daughter, Deborah Aku, told journalists in Makurdi, the state capital, that trouble began last month after a man came to the house with a cutlass and threatened to deal with the occupants if his goat died again.

The man claimed that he was told that his goat died after drinking water from their house.

The late governor’s daughter said her mother reported the incident to the Police Division in Gboko, which charged it to court.

She, however, added that the fresh attack took place between 7am and 8am last Monday when the hoodlums, numbering about 30 besieged the house and trapped all six occupants.

“When we noticed that their visit was not friendly, we locked all the doors and called the Police.

“Before the police could arrive, they started destroying the house, killed our dog, broke into the pig house and carted away all the pigs. They also destroyed our mother’s car.

“The police arrived and were able to rescue us out of the house. We left with the police with only what we were putting on. While we were on our way with the police the house was burnt with everything inside. The police came in two trucks but the boys were many and even attacked them too.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident to journalists on Tuesday in Makurdi.

If the residence of such a political leader could be razed in broad daylight in such a brazen manner without any resistance by security agencies, the common man is in deeper trouble that can be imagined.