by Christiana Gokyo, Jos

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has condemned in totality, the reported invasion of the residence of the former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, at Ola, Akwanga Local Government Area of the State by suspected bandits at the late hours of Saturday.

A statement, signed and issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, describes the incident as unfortunate, stressing that, he had since directed the Police and other security agents in the state to ensure that the criminals were brought to book, while reassuring that the security of lives and property as well as the general well-being of the citizens would continue to be given top priority by his administration.

According to Governor Sule, the State Government is already partnering with the top Military Command, the Police and other Para-military agencies to ensure that the bandits fleeing from other parts of the country as a result of military offensive do not have a hiding place in Nasarawa State. 

He said, Government and people of Nasarawa State extend their deepest sympathy to the former Minister of Information over the unfortunate incident and to the injured security personnel, who were on duty at the time of the invasion.

He warned the criminal elements operating under whatever guise to leave or desist from their evil ways as the state has no hiding place for criminals.

Our correspondent gathered that, suspected bandits invaded the residence of the former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, and injured three security guards. Consequently, one of the guards sustained various degrees of injuries, as the bandits forced their way into the compound of the former Minister in Akwanga, at about 7: 50 pm on Saturday.

An eyewitness (who confided in our reporter), said the attackers were heard communicating in Hausa Language and at the same time banging on the entrance gate as well as shooting sporadically when they were refused entry.

According to him, “They came in numbers and ordered me to open the entrance gate. When I resisted because I did not know who they are, they started shooting and scaled up the fence into the compound.”

When newsmen contacted the former minister (Labaran Maku), he disclosed that, this was the third time in one month his residence would be attacked by suspected Fulani bandits.

He recalled that, “They invaded my father’s compound at Wakama and kidnapped three of my siblings about a month ago; the other time they killed two of my elder brother’s children right at the residential house.

“What happened today shows clearly that our state is under siege by suspected bandits. It took the intervention of the Army and the Police deployed to Akwanga, who immediately rushed to my residence. On sighting the army, they fled into the bush,” Maku lamented.