Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has denied claims of an assassination attempt on him along the Abuja-Lokoja expressway on October 22, 2023. This comes after the Kogi State commissioner for information, Kingsley Fanwo, issued a statement alleging that the governor was attacked three times by individuals in military uniforms while on his way to an official assignment in Abuja.
Governor Bello refuted these claims and stated that they were false and should be disregarded. He explained that the incident was a minor disagreement between his personal security team and military personnel responsible for road protection, emphasizing that there was no attempt on his life.
The governor clarified that the altercation involved members of the Nigerian Police Force attached to his convoy and a military unit responsible for highway security, and it occurred while both units were performing their lawful security duties.
While commending the security agencies for their collective efforts in enhancing the security of lives and property in Kogi State, Governor Bello called on the respective agencies to investigate any overzealous or unprofessional behavior by their personnel involved in the incident and take appropriate action.
He urged the citizens of Kogi State to ignore any attempts by political opportunists to exploit the incident for political gain, especially with the 2023 governorship elections scheduled for November 11. The governor assured the public of his safety and the adequacy of security measures to ensure peaceful, free, and fair elections.
Furthermore, the Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has initiated an investigation into the alleged attack on Governor Yahaya Bello. According to the Commissioner of Police for the FCT, Haruna Garba, preliminary findings indicated that the incident resulted from an altercation between military personnel at a checkpoint and the governor’s motorcade. The crisis reportedly stemmed from the governor’s motorcade’s refusal to stop at the military checkpoint.
Watch the video below:
VIDEO: "There Was No Assassination Attempt On My Life" — Yahaya Bello, Kogi State Governor pic.twitter.com/fmtgF8txTm
— Intel Region (@IntelRegion) October 23, 2023