Gunmen opened fire on Yahaya Bello’s convoy, says commissioner

Gunmen have attacked the convoy of Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state, according to Kingsley Fanwo, the commissioner of information.

The governor’s convoy was said to have been attacked a few kilometres away from Abuja around 4pm.

Fanwo, in a statement, said the attackers were dressed in military uniform and opened fire on the convoy.

The commissioner added that the security personnel attached to the governor repelled the attack.

“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,” Fanwo said.

“It took the swift intervention of the security personnel attached to the governor to foil the satanic plans of the unknown soldiers.

“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.

“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 will not be lost on the altar of violent politics.”

The alleged attack on Bello’s convoy comes days after some gunmen attacked the convoy of Murtala Yakubu-Ajaka, governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi.

The incident occurred on Wednesday when Ajaka and other SDP chieftains were returning from a stakeholders’ meeting in Ogori Magongo axis of Kogi state.

Also in June, gunmen attacked Bello’s convoy along the Abuja-Lokoja highway, injuring some of the security aides attached to the governor.