The police command in Benue says a group of hoodlums on Monday set ablaze the Gboko residence of ex-Governor Aper Aku.

Sewuese Anene, the command’s public relations officer, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Makurdi, the state capital.

Ms Anene declined further comments on the incident and said that investigations were ongoing to unravel those behind the crime.

Late Aku served as governor of Benue between 1979 and 1984.

Deborah Aku, daughter of the ex-governor, told journalists that police rescued six of them from the building shortly before the hoodlums allegedly set the house on fire.

Ms Aku explained that the entire house, including properties worth millions, were burnt down.

She said trouble began last month when a man came to the house with a cutlass and threatened to deal with them if any of his goats died again.

According to her, the man claimed that he was told that his goat died after drinking water from the Akus’ residence.

She said the matter was reported to the police, who nabbed the man a few days after he resisted the first arrest.

“When he was arrested, his father mobilised his people, numbering over 50, to our house, accusing us of kidnapping his son.

“While they were in our house, they destroyed some things. When the police arrived, they arrested his father, and later, the matter was charged to court,” Ms Aku explained.

She said the judge who granted them bail on April 2 adjourned the case to July 1 and directed that they settle out of court.

According to her, about 30 hoodlums attacked the house between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Monday. She added that all the six occupants were trapped inside the home.

She said the hoodlums had begun destroying the house, killed their dog, broke into their pen and taken their pigs away before the police arrived.

“The police arrived and were able to rescue us. We left with the police with only what we were putting on. While we were on our way with the police, they set the house ablaze with everything inside.

“The police came in two trucks, but the boys were many and even attacked them too,” Ms Aku explained.

(NAN)