Yahaya Bello denies surviving assassination attempt on Abuja-Lokoja road

Yahaya Bello, 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” on his route to an official assignment in Abuja.

However, in response to his aide’s claim, Governor Bello described the claims as untrue and should be ignored.

Governor Bello stated that the event was a little disagreement between his personal security team and military soldiers tasked to defend the route, adding that there was no attempt on his life.

He stated that while there was a little scuffle between men from the Nigerian Police Force attached to his convoy and those from a military unit monitoring the roadways, it was in the course of both units fulfilling their lawful security duty.

The Governor, while praising 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, due for November 11, approach.

He guaranteed the state of his protection as well as the sufficiency of security arrangements to ensure that the elections are peaceful, free, and fair.