Benue Gov. Aide Attacked Over Alleged Adultery, Reports Being Shot Six Times In The Head
Posted: November 14, 2011 - 17:52

Photo Credit, Google
Dr. Cletus Akwaya, the Special Assistant for Media and Publicity to the Benue State Governor, was given the beating of his life in the early hours of yesterday by angry youths suspected to be loyal to the estranged husband of a woman he is allegedly having an affair with.

But contrary to the claims of the state Governor, Gabriel Suswam, the attack was neither political nor did Dr. Akwaya suffer any gunshots.

The man was treated at the hospital, and discharged by the Governor.

In the small hours of Sunday, the media aide was reported to have been accosted by about four youths at the beer business premises of the woman at the NNPC Mega station in Makurdi.

Sensing trouble, he reportedly tried to escape but was caught and beaten with firewood and bottles that littered the place. His attackers also dealt what appears to be machete blows to his head.



Upon his release by his assailants, the media aide checked into the Federal Medical Centre Makurdi and reported that he had been shot six times in the head by assassins. He did not explain how he was walking around with six bullets in his head.



Trouble started for Dr. Akwaya a few years ago when he allegedly started a romance with the lady, who operates a beer and food outlet. Despite repeated warnings from her husband, Mr. Kulas, the media aide refused to back off. Another dimension to the issue is that Mr. Kulas’ relatives accused Dr. Akwaya of instigating his sack from Governor Suswam's government a few years ago. His open romance with the woman was said to have enraged her husband, who promised to teach Akwaya a lesson.



Yesterday’s attack when the youths, who are sympathetic to the estranged husband, cornered Akwaya who apparently thought the coast was clear for another rendezvous in the wee hours of Sunday.



In an interesting development, the governor's aide, ashamed of the embarrassment his encounter would cause, lied that he'd been attacked by assassins. He gave a press conference at the Federal Medical Centre Makurdi and stated he was having a conversation with a relative's wife when six thugs attacked him brandishing guns. According to him, he threw the first one to the ground, but the others fired six shots at his head from very close range. He claimed he managed to break away from his assailants despite being shot but tripped over a piece of firewood, which made his attackers catch up with him and deal him more blows using the wood he had stumbled over. In his account, he managed to escape into the bush before a motorcycle taxi rider discovered him and rushed him to hospital.






Photos of Dr. Akwaya in bloodied bandages quickly circulated by supporters of Governor Suswam, around the state and on social networks.  The 'assassins story' was also sent to the National Accord and National Mirror newspapers. The Commissioner for Information, Mr Conrad Wergba, accused the ACN in the state of being behind the “assassination” attempt. He openly manipulated former governors George Akumeand Paul Unongu as being those who scripted the plot.



Visiting the media aide, Governor Gabriel, who was accompanied by the Minister of Interior, put the attack at the doorstep of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Benue. He also named his predecessor, Mr. Akume and the Second Republic Minister, Paul Unongo, as the brains behind the 'dastardly act'. The governor promised to use his powers to arrest them and have them prosecuted. He also threatened to have all the elders in the state who had written petitions against him to the president arrested.

In a bizzare twist in the matter, the governor ordered that Dr. Akwaya be taken home for treatment, citing “security” concerns.

But members of the public are shocked by what one of them tagged 'an open show of shame'.



One of them asked, "How can a man with six bullets in his head be discharged not by a doctor but a politician who's an outsider in the medical field?"

Yet another said, "Even a man with a head made of stone will be badly injured if he got shot in the head repeatedly from close range. The governor should stop lying to people over the activities of a philandering aide. The decision to take that man home is to hide the lies they've told around shooting."



A doctor who pleaded anonymity and was part of the team that treated Dr. Akwaya  expressed shock when he heard the bullet stories from officials of the state government.



"We treated the patient for bruises gotten from what appeared to be beatings and machete cuts on his head. There was nothing in his injuries to remotely suggest a gun had been used. We wanted to discharge him almost immediately yesterday (Sunday), but didn't due to his status to enable him get some rest."



Many people in Benue see Governor Suswam's desperate lies as the attempt of a drowning man to hold unto even non-existent things for survival.

The governor is facing stiff challenges over the April elections, which are widely thought to have been won by the ACN. He is also facing a certificate forgery case at the hands of his challenger at the PDP primaries, and the ANPP candidate in the April election, Prof. Daniel Saror. In the face of these troubles, Governor Suswam has deployed every strategy in his book to stay afloat.



Last month, he followed President Goodluck Jonathan to Australia and threw a lavish party for the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, in an effort to attract the support of the first family to the storm he faces. 

The outright lies told by the governor following the attacks on his media aide are seen as another sympathy tactic on his part.

Meanwhile Dr. Akwaya, the media aide who reported he was shot six times in the head is now in his home following the governor's directive. What manner of surgery will be performed in his bedroom to extract the 'bullets' remain to be seen.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/benue-gov-aide-attacked-over-alleged-adultery-reports-being-shot-six-times-head

When I read the 'assasination attempt' version in papers today, it sounded like cock and bull story to me. This version appears more real to me.

It is safe to say Benue State is now part and parcel of d South-South States which is quite interesting considering they have to jump and elope over d SE states in other to co-join with their kith & kin in d coast. This has being the tightest relationship between Benue and d SS States since d Amalgamation of Northern & Southern Nigeria. Even SS Governors don't have the leverage Gov Suswan seems to be enjoying in As Rock.

Do I really need to inform d North that they have finally lost one of their states. This new alliance between Benue & SS is making d Senate President enthusiasm and desire for d top job seem plausible. I would be worried If I were Sambo thus!