Women groups have called on relevant authorities to expedite actions on the investigation into circumstances surrounding the murder of Mrs Salome Acheju Abu, a female politician who was burnt down alive in her home in a widely reported post election violence in Kogi state.

At a press conference oganised by Emerge Women in partnership with Igala Noble Women and Amazons for Change in Abuja, the groups demanded that the culprits in the arson be arraigned and prosecuted to serve as deterrence to others.

The statement signed by Mrs Mary Ikoku, Dr. Safiya Stephanie Musa, Hajia Mariam Emeje and Ms. Achenyo Abuh for Emerge Women, Amazons for Change & Empowerment Initiative, Igala Noble Women and the deceased family respectively, the groups called on women worldwide, all spirited individuals and human rights organisations to take special interest in how the slain woman’s case is handled by relevant agencies.

They condemned the attempt made by the Senator representing Kogi East, Isah Jibrin Echocho to downplay the arson by unduly justifying the killing as a “retaliatory” attack.

Full Statement:

We have invited you here today to give an update on the case of Mrs Salome ACHEJU ABUH of Ochadamu in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, who was a victim of political violence in the aftermath of the November 16 governorship election. She was burnt alive by some hoodlums masquerading as APC party thugs.

Like several credible local and international observers have testified in their different reports of the kogi governorship election held on Saturday November 16, 2019, what transpired in the state on that day was anything but an orderly election through which a credible leadership could have emerged.

As recounted by various sources, the election was characterized by logistics challenges, vote snatching, voter intimidation, vote buying and physical destruction of ballot materials in several polling units in kogi state, particularly in Dekina, Ankpa, Okene, Okehi, Lokoja, Ofu, Yagba East, Yagba west local government areas and several other places in all the senatorial districts where arms were glaringly used by party thugs to intimidate and disrupt the electoral process, in most cases with members of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies either helpless or compromised.
3. Despite the shortcomings as observed in the election which were reported by several local and international observers however, the results were declared in favour of the ruling APC in the state on Monday, 18 November, 2019. In celebration of the outcome of the election, therefore, some armed thugs in Ochadamu, Ofu local government area of the state took particular interest in Mrs Salome, because of the active role she played in campaigning for the leading opposition candidate, Engr. Musa Wada. Accordingly, with smoking guns, the murderous thugs invaded her house, locked her in to prevent her from escaping, set the house ablaze and watched her burn to ashes while foreclosing any attempt at a rescue by constantly shooting into the air while the arson lasted.


Read more @https://kogigist.com/2019/11/29/we-demand-justice-for-mrs-salome-acheju-abuh-women-groups/