Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi State, has denied surviving an assassination attempt on the Abuja-Lokoja road on Sunday, October 22.
According to reports, the Kogi State commissioner for information, Kingsley Fanwo, issued a statement stating that Governor Bello was attacked three times by “strange elements in military uniforms” while on his way to an official assignment in Abuja.
However, in response to his aide’s claim, Governor Bello stated that the claims were baseless and should be ignored.
Governor Bello stated that the incident was the result of a minor disagreement between his personal security team and military officers assigned to guard the route, adding that no attempt on his life was made.
He went on to say that while there was a brief scuffle between men from the Nigerian Police Force attached to his convoy and those from a military unit monitoring the roadways, it was all part of both units fulfilling their lawful security duty.
The Governor, while commending the security agencies for their joint contributions to the improved security of lives and property enjoyed by Kogi State citizens, urged the agencies’ high command to investigate any overzealous or unprofessional behavior by any of their men involved in the incident and impose the necessary sanctions.
The Governor urged Kogi State residents to disregard any attempt by political profiteers to utilize the tragedy to upset the polity as the state’s 2023 governorship elections, scheduled for November 11, approach.
He guaranteed the state of his protection as well as the sufficiency of security procedures to ensure peaceful, free, and fair elections.
