BY TIMOTHY AGBOR
The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Sunday narrowly escaped assassination plot by some gun-wielding men who dressed in military uniform and attacked his convoy.
A statement by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed that the assassination attempt happened at about 4pm, a few kilometres away from Abuja when Governor Bello was on his way to an official engagement from Lokoja.
The unknown soldiers re-launched their attack along the same routes two other times after the first attempt failed.
At the three different points, the gunmen barricaded roads and shot at the vehicle conveying Governor Bello while not sparing other vehicles in the convoy.
The statement revealed that at the last barricade being around Kwali Federal Capital Territory at about 4.20pm, security personnel attached to the governor were able to foil the evil plans of the unknown soldiers.
Narrating in details how Governor Bello narrowly escaped death, Fanwo said, “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, CON, a few kilometres away from Abuja, on his way to an official engagement from Lokoja.
“The attack occurred at about 4pm on Sunday, October 22, 2023.
“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.
“The attacks were at three different points, the last barricade being around Kwali Federal Capital Territory at about 4.20pm.
“The report of these strange attacks has been properly documented at security offices in the state and at the national level for prompt and thorough investigations to avert future occurrences.”
Fanwo suspected that the attack may not be unconnected with the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, saying, “We are not oblivious of the fact that certain elements are bent on painting Kogi unsafe ahead of the Governorship Poll slated for November 11, 2023. As an administration, we will spare nothing to ensure our citizens are not subjected to security threats by desperate politicians sponsoring violence and terrorism.
“We call on the citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements in their domain to relevant security agencies. It is 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,” he added.
