IGP orders action against ex-Benue LG boss, brother, others over attempt to murder journalist in Abuja

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, has ordered immediate investigation into the attempt on the life of DAILY POST Deputy Editor, Ameh Comrade Godwin and threat to attack its Managing Editor, Ali Adoyi, by one Samuel Odoh Onuh (also known as Prince Onuh).

Onuh, who is the Peoples Democratic Party’s chairmanship candidate in Ogbadibo for the postponed local council election, had led some thugs alongside his brother, Frank Onuh, to attack Ameh on February 26 in Area 8, Abuja.

The journalist had in a statement said that the Onuh brothers and their hired thugs numbering eight, after assaulting him, labeled him a thief.

“It was God that saved me because when Samuel ordered one of the boys to shoot me, I took to my heels and they went after me shouting thief, barawo (which means thief in Hausa language). Some boys around the area went after me with weapons to lynch me, thinking I was actually a thief. It was God that saved me,” Ameh had explained in his statement submitted to the police.

The politician also threatened to deal with Mr. Adoyi and those he believed were against his chairmanship candidature after his attempt to kill Ameh failed.

Consequently, DAILY POST through its lawyer, Barr. John George Itodo, Esq, of Hedgewood Legal, petitioned the Inspector General of Police over the attempted murder and threat to lives of DAILY POST staff.

In the petition entitled: “Petition against one Samuel Odoh Onuh, the PDP candidate for Ogbadibo LGA chairmanship election in Benue State for violent attack on Ameh Comrade Godwin and threat to lives of Ali Adoyi and others” the lawyer called on the police “IG to without delay investigate and prosecute the said Samuel Onuh and his thugs, who have vowed to either make life unbearable for our clients’ staff or terminate their lives. And our clients are more apprehensive as the said Samuel Onuh and his thugs have carried out the first attack.”

Meanwhile, the IG of police has ordered the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command to treat the case without delay.

In a memo forwarded to the CP through his Principal Staff Officer, DCP Idowu Onohubwa, the police boss asked the commissioner to “treat” the attempt on the life of the journalist and that of his colleagues by Onuh and his thugs.

“I forward herewith a copy of a letter dated 2nd March, 2020 received from Hedgewood Legal on the above underlined subject and respectfully convey the directive of the Inspector-General of Police that you treat,” part of the memo read.