The Kogi State government on Sunday said security foiled an assassination attempt on the state governor, Yahaya Bello, a few kilometres away from Abuja, on his way to an official engagement from Lokoja.
A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo in Abuja said the attack occurred at about 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 22, 2023.
He said: “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 4.20 pm.”
Fanwo further said these strange attacks have been properly documented at security offices in the state and at the national level for prompt and thorough investigations to avert future occurrences.
The Commissioner, in the statement, fingered some unidentified elements who are bent on painting Kogi unsafe ahead of the Governorship election slated for November 11, 2023.
He however said the government “will spare nothing to ensure our citizens are not subjected to security threats by desperate politicians sponsoring violence and terrorism.
Fanwo added: “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.”
