Suspected political thugs have attacked the newly appointed media consultant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State, Bemgba Iortyom, destroying his vehicle during the incident.
The attack occurred on Friday night along George Akume Way in Makurdi, barely 24 hours after the state PDP Secretary, Dan Nyikwagh, announced Iortyom’s appointment in a statement.
Narrating the incident to journalists on Saturday, Iortyom said he narrowly escaped the attack while his car was set ablaze by the assailants.
“Last night, on George Akume Way in Makurdi, I was attacked by unknown persons. Though I managed to escape, my car, a Peugeot 406 saloon, was set ablaze and burnt to ashes,” he said.
According to him, the attackers arrived on two motorcycles and blocked his vehicle while he was attempting to park to make a phone call.
“The assailants, numbering about five, were armed with short axes and descended on me. I quickly opened my car door and ran for safety before they poured fuel on the vehicle and set it on fire,” he added.
Iortyom said the attackers fled the scene on their motorcycles while bystanders urged him to run to safety.
He confirmed that the incident had been reported to the Nigeria Police Force and that an investigation was ongoing.
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson of the state police command, Udeme Edet, said the police would investigate the matter following the complaint by the victim.
“Since the victim has reported to the police, allow the police to go on with their investigation,” Edet said.
