The Kogi State Government said on Sunday that there was an assassination attempt on the state governor, Yahaya Bello, a few kilometres away from Abuja, on his way to an official engagement in Lokoja, the state capital.
Kingsley Fanwo, the Kogi state commissioner for information, stated in a statement that the attack occurred at about 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 22, 2023.
The statement reads, “The attackers, who were dressed in military uniforms, waylaid the governor Bello‘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.”
Fanwo said that the attacks were at three different points, the last barricade being around Kwali Federal Capital Territory at about 4.20 p.m.
“The report of these strange attacks has been properly documented at security offices in Kogi state and at the national level for prompt and thorough investigations to avert future occurrences,” he added.
“We are not oblivious to 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.”
He called 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,” he stated.
