The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, escaped an assassination attempt on Sunday evening, while on his way to an official event in Abuja.
The daredevil attack was disclosed in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo.
He said that attackers who were clad in military uniforms, ambushed the governor’s envoy and started shooting at his vehicle.
Fanwo said the attack was foiled by the quick intervention of security agents, stressing that security officers at the national level would investigate the incident.
The commissioner, therefore, called on the citizens of the state to remain vigilant and report all suspicious movements to relevant authorities.
The statement read, “The Kogi State Government wishes to inform the general public that there was an assassination attempt on the Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON, a few kilometres away from Abuja, on his way to an official engagement from Lokoja. The attack occurred at about 4 pm on Sunday, October 22, 2023.
“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 4.20 p.m.
“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.”
An update said that 2 of the governor’s aids were injured.