Three witnesses associated with Olayinka Braimoh, the Action Alliance gubernatorial candidate for Kogi State, were kidnapped by political thugs on February 26, 2024. This incident took place at the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, amidst proceedings of the Kogi State Governorship Tribunal. The victims, identified as Idris Khadijat, Safiyat Muhammed, and Abdulmalik Muhammed, are reportedly being mistreated, with threats also being directed at their families for their willingness to testify in court. The location of additional witnesses remains uncertain.
In addition to the abductions, it was reported that the vehicles used to transport the witnesses to the tribunal were damaged by the thugs. The motivation behind this attack appears to stem from the perceived strength of Braimoh’s petition and the compelling evidence he presented to the tribunal.
Adding to the climate of intimidation, radio stations within the central senatorial district of Kogi State have been broadcasting messages warning residents against acting as witnesses for any political parties, further highlighting the tense atmosphere surrounding the tribunal proceedings.