Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has denied alleged assassination attempt on his life on Sunday even as the Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has begun investigation into the incident.
Addressing newsmen in the evening of Sunday, Bello explained the incident on Lokoja-Abuja Highway as a mere altercation between his security details and some military personnel at a check point.
But his Information Commissioner, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement, alleged assassination attempt on the governor’s life along the Lokoja-Abuja Road around 4.20.p.m. of Sunday.
Fanwo had claimed that the assassins were in military uniforms during the attack, which was repelled by security men attached to the governor.
Another statement issued in Lokoja by Bello’s Media Aide, Onogwu Mohammed, said: “What happened along the Lokoja-Abuja road was a minor disagreement between the security details attached to him and some military personnel providing security on the road.
In an interview granted to newsmen at his residence in Abuja, Bello stated that there was no attempt whatsoever on his life.
He clarified that while there was a minor fracas between men of the Nigerian Police Force attached to his convoy and those of a military unit manning the highways, it was in the course of both units performing their lawful security duties.”
The governor commended the security agencies for their joint contributions to the improved security of lives and property enjoyed by the residents of Kogi State.
Bello, however, called on the high command of the agencies involved to investigate overzealousness or unprofessional conduct by any of their men involved in the incident and apply the necessary sanctions.
The governor also called on residents of Kogi State to ignore any attempt by political profiteers to use the incident to unsettle the polity as the state’s 2023 governorship elections slated for November 11 drew nearer.
He assured the state of both his safety and the adequacy of security arrangements to ensure that the elections were peaceful, free and fair.
Meanwhile, the Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has begun investigation into the incident.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the FCT, Mr Haruna Garba , while reacting to a statement by the Kogi Commissioner for Information and Communications said: ”preliminary investigation showed that the alleged attack was a result of altercation between the military personnel at checkpoint and the governor’s motorcade.
”In investigation revealed that the crisis followed the refusal of the governor’s motorcade to stop at the military check point”.
The information commissioner had alleged that there was an assasination attempt on the governor, a few kilometres away from Abuja.
Fanwo said the governor was on his way to an official engagement from Lokoka.
He said the attack occurred at about 4p.m. on Sunday, adding that the attackers were dressed in military uniforms.
Fanwo said the attackers waylaid the governor’s motorcade and fired 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,” he said.
(NAN)
