The Kogi State government has blamed ‘unknown soldiers’ for the ambush on Governor Yahaya Bello along Lokoja-Abuja expressway.
Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said in a statement that Governor Bello escaped the assassination attempt while on his to an official event in Abuja on Sunday evening.
Fanwo said the attackers who were clad in military uniforms ambushed the Governor’s envoy and started shooting at his vehicle.
According to the statement: “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 Lokoka. 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.”
While the attack was reportedly foiled by the quick intervention of the security agents, the commissioner blamed it on the activities of certain people who were trying to display the state as unsafe ahead of the governorship election scheduled for next month.
“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.
“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 the 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.”