Hoodlums torch Dino Melaye’s constituency projects in Kogi

Govt, PDP condemn incident, seek arrest of culprits
From John Akubo, Lokoja

Unknown thugs in the wee hours of yesterday razed some constituency projects billed for commissioning by the representative of Kogi West in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, in Lokoja, the state capital.

Billed for inauguration the fateful day were blocks of classrooms and other facilities at Government Girls Secondary School Sarkin Noma and Lokongoma Secondary School both in Lokoja council area and two other projects.

According to reports, Melaye had allegedly been warned earlier by the faceless hoodlums to steer clear of the capital and forget the commissioning of the pet projects of his.During the incident, which took place around 2:00a.m., the arsonists reportedly burnt down the entire buildings with books and furniture.It was learnt that the perpetrators had distributed pamphlets in the capital warning the lawmaker to forget about his planned visit to the senatorial district.

However, Melaye said he had informed the state police command of his itinerary and intention to inaugurate projects in seven council areas within the senatorial district.The torched projects were part of the 143 institutionalised by Melaye who was already on his way to the event when the news broke.

The senator, who condemned the development, however, vowed to proceed with the programme.Melaye had commissioned a block of four classrooms in Taware, Manyare and 10 kilometres roads, all in Gegu-Beki area and a borehole at Felele in Lokoja local council.He regretted that some persons who were not ready to provide for the people could undertake such mischievous act.

The lawmaker decried that the schools built for the good of the communities had been destroyed by “some politicians who could not provide projects through the sponsoring of thugs.”Meanwhile, the state government has condemned the incident.The Director General, Media and Publicity to the governor, Kingsley Fanwo, who made the condemnation during an assessment tour of the facilities, stated that government had directed security operatives to fish out the arsonists.

The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Rosemary Osikoya, also pledged that the current administration in the state would ensure that the perpetrators were arrested.The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Monday Kuryas, said the hoodlums forced their way into the structures.

Also yesterday, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deplored the arson, describing the incident as a loss not to only Melaye, but also to Kogi children, the community and the state which are the primary beneficiaries of the projects

In a statement by its Director Research and Documentation, Achadu Dickson, PDP lamented that the attack “has once again shown that we have retrogressed to those dark days when thugs were kings.The party called on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous act.