Kogi State Police Command, Wednesday, said hooded gunmen attacked the Secretary of Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal, David Mike, and carted away petitions against the Governor-Elect, Usman Ododo.

According to the police spokesperson, William Ovye-Aya, petitions carted away included that of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and the first runner up in the November 11, 2023, election.

According to the statement, Mike reported to the police that he was attacked on Monday by some armed men while heading to his office at the High Court Complex in Lokoja, the state capital.

The tribunal secretary said he was with two other officials when the incident occurred.

“On the date (December 4) three of them left their hotel rooms in Lokoja about 1300hrs, heading to their office at the High Court Complex, driving in his (David’s) Peugeot 406 car, but that just before the CBN at about 1320hrs, one SUV vehicle which had earlier overtaken him, blocked his car with two other SUVS following behind.

“All of them (attackers) surrounded and blocked him as he attempted to reverse.

“He (Mike) saw about seven hooded men all heavily armed and dressed in black attire, who shot severally into the air and dragged him and his two other colleagues out of their car, ransacked the car and made away with all the documents, including petitions filed by four parties.

“The names of the parties are Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“The items also included two record books and a bag containing his personal items.

“He claimed to have also reported to the DSS Office.”

The police said an investigation into the incident has been ordered by the Commissioner of Police in the state.

Ovye-Aya noted that the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, had ordered a thorough and diligent investigation into the incident.

The police spokesman explained that the statement on the attack became imperative following series of distorted information on the incident.

He added: “The command hereby advises the general public to avoid making statements that might prejudice ongoing investigation into the matter.”

Gunmen had last Friday attacked the residence of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, in the state, Gabriel Longpet.