By Ada Okafor and Mercy Aikoye
Gunmen reportedly dressed in military uniforms, have reportedly attacked the convoy of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
According to the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the attack took place around 4pm on Sunday close to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He described the attack as assassination attempt on the governor, saying Bello was on his way to attend to an official engagement in Abuja from Lokoja, the state capital.
The Commissioner stated: “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.”
There has been a ding-dong with attacks on politicians, especially those contesting next month’s Governorship election in the state.
Even during the 2023 general elections, there were unprecedented political violence in the state with video clips of some LGA chairmen escorted by armed policemen, tearing the ballot papers containing votes of opposition political parties, yet nothing happened to those LG chairmen.
Also, the state governor for inexplicable reasons used a bulldozer to cut off a tarred road in Kogi Central Senatorial zone on the even of the National Assembly election, claiming he did so for security reasons.
Already, a female chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was killed near Kotonkarfe at the rally ground approved for the Social Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate, sparking claims and counter claims as to who perpetrated the dastardly act.
During the 2019 off season Governorship election in the state, the Woman Leade of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state was killed by Gunmen suspected to be APC thugs and her house set ablaze while she was sleeping few day to that election.
Last week, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)n Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, lamented disturbing political violence in the state and urged security agencies to up their services in the state.
