The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is calling for an investigation into the reported terrorist attack on its presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in Yola, Adamawa.
The call was made in a statement issued by PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba in Abuja.
Mr Ologunagba said the PDP was alarmed by the reported foiled terrorist attack on Abubakar, its presidential candidate and other sensitive locations in Yola, Adamawa.
He said that by the confession of the arrested assailants, the plot had the ”paw marks of a sponsored attempt on the life of Abubakar.”
He added, “Our party charges the inspector general of police, Olukayode Egbetokun, to take the lead provided by the confession of the assailants to track down their sponsors and bring them to book in the interest of the security, unity and well-being of our nation.”
“We also urge the federal government to ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly act and their sponsors are brought to book,” added the PDP spokesman. “This particular investigation is important to the country because of the scope and dimension of the attempted attack.”
Mr Ologunagba urged security agencies to tighten security around Abubakar and his family members at this critical time in Nigeria’s democratic process.
He commended the collaborative effort of vigilantes and security agencies in foiling the attack and urged Nigerians to remain calm as the authorities began an investigation to fish out the masterminds.
The police in Adamawa on Sunday arrested four people suspected to be members of Boko Haram over an alleged plot to attack Mr Abubakar’s residence.
The police spokesman in Yola, SP Suleiman Nguroje, stated that one of the suspects was arrested by the security detail attached to Mr Abubakar’s house while the other was picked up at a different location in the state capital.
”One of the suspects, a 29-year-old man, confessed to being a Boko Haram member from Damboa in Borno. He was arrested at the gate of Abubakar’s residence while trying to carry out the attack at about 9:00 p.m. on Sunday,” Mr Nguroye said. “They said they were sent to study the house, institutions, and some sensitive places for an attack.”
The suspects, Mr Nguroje said, were handed over to the military authorities for further action.