Lawmakers visiting Yahaya Bello ‘harassed by hoodlums’ at Kogi government house

Some members of the national assembly representing Kogi were on Tuesday “harassed” at the state government house in Lokoja, the capital city.

Onogwu Muhammed, chief press secretary, to Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi, said in a statement on Wednesday that the lawmakers — senators and members of the house of representatives — visited his principal to congratulate him for the victory recorded in the November 11, 2023 governorship election.

He said the legislators were “harassed” on their way out of the government house complex.

“The national assembly lawmakers from Kogi, excluding Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, had visited Gov. Bello to congratulate him on the peaceful and credible conduct of the Nov. 11 Governorship Election and to pledge their unalloyed loyalty to him and the incoming administration,” the statement reads.

“Unfortunately, shortly after the fruitful discussion, the governor received with rude shock, the news of the harassment of some of the lawmakers on their way out of the government house.”

Muhammed said six suspects linked to the harassment of the lawmakers have been apprehended by security operatives.

He said the governor has directed a “thorough” investigation and prosecution of the suspects to ensure they “face the full wrath of the law”.

Muhammed said Bello has banned unauthorised persons from gaining access to the government house.

The lawmakers who visited the governor included Jibrin Isah-Echocho, Sunday Karimi, Abdullahi Halims, Zachariah Idris, Sani Egidi, Abdulrahim Danga, Gowon Haruna, Tijani Ozigi, Danladi Aguye, and Hon Salman Idris.