The Kogi state government has announced that the state’s governor, Yahaya Bello, escaped an assassination attempt on Sunday at the Lokoja-Abuja Highway on his way to the capital city of Abuja on official assignment.
This was disclosed by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement made available to newsmen in Lokoja, the state’s capital.
According to him, the attacks were at three different points, with the last barricade being around Kwali Federal Capital Territory at about 4.20 p.m.
“The Kogi state government wishes to inform the general public that there was an assassination attempt on the governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, a few kilometers away from Abuja, on his way to an official engagement from Lokoja.
“The attack occurred at about 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22.
“The attackers, who were dressed in military uniforms, waylaid the governor’s convoy and started shooting sporadically at his vehicle and other vehicles in the convoy.
“It took the swift intervention of the security personnel attached to the governor to foil the satanic plans of the unknown soldiers,” Mr. Fanwo alleged.
As alleged by the commissioner, the attack may not be unconnected to the upcoming governorship election in the state.
“We are not oblivious to the fact that certain elements are bent on painting Kogi unsafe ahead of the governorship poll slated for Nov. 11.”
”As an administration, we will spare nothing to ensure our residents are not subjected to security threats by desperate politicians sponsoring violence and terrorism.
“We call on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements in the domain to relevant security agencies.”
Mr. Fanwo further pointed out that it was the responsibility of the government to “ensure security, and we want to assure you that the peace we have enjoyed as a state in the last eight years won’t be lost on the altar of violent politics.”
