The Kogi State government has condemned the burning of one of the constituency projects of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) in Lokoja, the capital.
The projects were due for inauguration yesterday.
Some unidentified thugs on Tuesday warned Melaye not to venture into the state, else he will be attacked.
Melaye, however, said he had formally informed the police command of his visit to inaugurate projects in the seven councils of the senatorial district, starting yesterday.
Police spokesman William Ayah said the command was neither aware of Melaye’s visit nor the pamphlets distributed by unknown persons.
The thugs, through unsigned pamphlets distributed at a naming, said Kogi was a no-go area for Melaye.
The pamphlet reads: “Dino don’t patronise Kogi. Stay away else you will have yourself to blame. Save yourself and remain where you are, keep off from our land.
“Dino come and reap what you sowed, you don’t respect our leaders so we don’t respect you. Respect is reciprocal. Take what you get; if you dare us, expect the worse, we warn you.”
One of the projects, a block of four classrooms in the capital, was razed yesterday.
Governor Yahaya Bello’s media aide, Kingsley Fanwo, after an assessment of the burnt project, said the government had directed security operatives to fish out the arsonists.
The four constituency projects include four blocks of classrooms each at the Government Girls Secondary School, Sarkin Noma; Lokongoma Secondary School, Phase 1; and Adankolo Secondary school.
Fanwo said: “The government condemns the incident. Education is the leading thematic area of the government and so will not allow any elements derail it.
“Irrespective of who is handling the project, the fund is from the government. So, whether it is the executive or legislative, such projects should be applauded and not destroyed.
“We have directed the security operatives to access the situation, get to the root of the matter, unravel the perpetrators and bring them to book. The government will take a decisive action to ensure they do not go free.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr. Monday Kuryas, said the hoodlums forced their way into the building.
According to him, the act is premeditated, as the arsonists came with tyres to burn the building, and damaged other structures.