Gov Bello Refutes Claims Of Attempt On His Life

Yahaya Bello, the Governor of Kogi State, has refuted reports of an attempt to assassinate him by gunmen wearing military uniforms, as stated by his Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo. The governor, however, did not give details on what he meant by a “minor disagreement” between his security team and some military personnel at a checkpoint.

The incident happened around 4.20 p.m. near Kwali in the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday, October 22, 2023, when the Governor was travelling from Lokoja to Abuja. Fanwo had claimed that the assailants were in military uniforms and were fought off by the governor’s security personnel.

But speaking to reporters at his home in Abuja, Bello denied that there was any real attempt to hurt him. He said that what occurred was a minor clash between the Nigerian Police Force members in his convoy and military personnel in charge of highway security while they were both performing their lawful duties.

Bello commended the security agencies for their joint efforts in improving the security and safety of the people of Kogi. He also urged the leadership of these agencies to probe any excessive or unprofessional conduct by their personnel involved in the incident and apply suitable sanctions.

The governor advised the people of Kogi to ignore any attempts by political opportunists to use the incident for their benefit as the state’s 2023 governorship elections, slated for November 11, drew nearer. He assured the state of his safety and the adequacy of security measures to ensure that the elections would be held peacefully, freely, and fairly.