….As Achadu Ata, Council chairman, insists on an explanation

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) strongly condemns the brutal killing of its Kogi East Youth Leader, Kashim Muhammad, by officers of the Nigeria Police from the Idah divisional headquarters in Kogi State.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday with Mr. Muhammad was shot by the police under circumstances that suggest a politically motivated act.

This is as the youths in the town have vowed to launch massive protest to all police formations in Idah , until full explanation is ascertained with a view to apprehend and prosecute the fugitive police officer who pulled the trigger.

The SDP in a statement signed by Isaiah Davies Ijele, the spokesperson of the Party and made available to Journalists in Lokoja on Sunday, demands a thorough and transparent investigation into this heinous crime.

According to the statement” We call for immediate justice for Kashim Muhammad, and we stand in solidarity with his family during this time of profound grief. We mourn the loss of a dedicated party member and a promising young leader.

“This act of violence is unacceptable and undermines the principles of democracy and the rule of law. The SDP urges the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and to ensure that such acts of brutality are not repeated.

“The DPO Idah Police Station will be held accountable to produce his men that were involved in this crime against humanity and the people of Idah Local Government deserves better policing than eliminating their young men.

In the same token, the Executive Chairman of Idah Local Government Council, Alhaji Alfa Halilu, in company with HRH Ali Yusuf Ameadaji, the Achadu Oko Attah Igala, registered their disappointment with the Idah police Area Commander over the brutal killing of Ene Umi Mohammed right in front of his compound by a police officer without provocation.

During the visit, the Chairman and Achadu Oko Atta, the paramount ruler of the area, requested to know the cause of the incident and expressed concern over the lack of an official police statement regarding the events that led to the death.

Meanwhile, the police have assured them that the investigation is ongoing and pledged to punish those guilty according to the law.

The Monarch, while appealing to the youths to remain calm and peaceful while awaiting the full details of the investigation, assured that no stone will be left unturned to get justice.

However, the youths in Idah LGA have threatened to launch massive protests to all the police formations in the city, should the police fail to provide credible insights into the circumstances that led to the dastardly incident.

The youths noted that if the police hierarchy in the state fails to communicate to people the genuine reasons for the extrajudicial murder of the youth leader before 9:30 am on Monday, they would have no other option than to stage a peaceful protest at Idah LGA Police Station.

The youths who decried the brutality of the police against innocent and hapless residents of Idah , demand urgent actions by the police authority to arrest and prosecute the officer who shot him dead in order to serve deterrents to other trigger happy policemen.

The youths lamented that the police have made life difficult for the law-abiding residents of the city with incessant brutality and unguarded killings, most times on frivolous allegations and politically motivated charges.

The youths with the hastag #justice4enemi, #chairmanmilitaryzone# manlikezubby vowed to escalate the protest until their demand is met, affirmed that Idah belong to everyone and as such , the police should not be used to silence opposition voices.