The Kogi State Government has confirmed the safety of it’s principal officer, Governor Yahaya Bello following an assassination attempt on the governor by some unknown gunmen.
The gunmen who were reportedly robbed in army camouflage and suspected to be soldiers, Sunday, launched an attack on the governor and his team few kilometres away from Abuja, while on his way to an official engagement from Lokoja.
In a statement issued on Sunday by Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, the attack occurred at about 4 p.m. on Sunday.
The statement read as follows, “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.
“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.”
However, the Kogi State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, said the incident happened in Kwali and not Kogi State territory and so he cannot make any comment.