APC Demands Impartial Probe into Jega Violence in Kebbi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State has called for a full, transparent and impartial investigation into the recent violence in Jega Local Government Area, during which properties belonging to residents were destroyed.

The party also urged residents, political actors and other stakeholders to remain calm and prioritise peace and public safety.

In a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday, APC State Publicity Secretary Alhaji Isah Assalafi reacted to the incident in parts of Jega, where dangerous weapons were used and extensive damage was caused to the property of innocent citizens.

Assalafi expressed sympathy for the victims and called on relevant authorities to provide assistance and protection to those affected. He stressed that Jega and Kebbi State must remain peaceful, insisting that democracy must prevail over violence and the rule of law over impunity.

He urged all stakeholders to work together to restore confidence, strengthen community relations and prevent a recurrence of the violence.

The party, he said, would continue to support lawful efforts aimed at protecting lives, securing communities and preserving democratic participation across the state.

Assalafi emphasised that criminality must be treated as such, regardless of who is involved. He commended security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders and residents whose interventions helped restore calm, while urging them to remain vigilant.

The party spokesman cautioned political actors, supporters and other stakeholders against inflammatory statements, deliberate misinformation and any actions that could heighten tension in Jega or elsewhere in the state.

He advised residents not to allow political differences to divide their communities and to reject recruitment into acts of destruction, instead reporting suspicious activities to the authorities.

Calling on political parties and their leaders to take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters, Assalafi said political actors must reject thuggery in all its forms and publicly commit to peaceful democratic engagement.

“To all political actors, our message is equally clear: contest elections with ideas, persuade the people with your record and programmes, and accept the rules of democratic engagement,” he stated.

He expressed concern that while political competition is a normal feature of democracy, it must never degenerate into confrontation, violence or destruction.

“Political differences are not a licence for criminality. Democracy is not a platform for violence. No political objective can justify the destruction of lives, property or public peace,” Assalafi said, adding that dialogue and lawful engagement remain the proper avenues for resolving disagreements.

The APC therefore demanded a comprehensive, thorough and impartial investigation into the violence.

It called on security agencies to establish the facts, identify those responsible and ensure that anyone found culpable faces the full consequences of the law.

Accountability, the party insisted, must be based on evidence rather than speculation, political affiliation or public pressure.