Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, reportedly escaped an assassination attempt on the Abuja-Lokoja expressway while on his way to an official engagement. According to a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, the governor was attacked by some “strange elements” dressed in military uniforms who ambushed his convoy and started shooting sporadically at his vehicle.

Fanwo revealed that the attack occurred at 4 p.m. and took the swift intervention of security personnel attached to the governor to foil the plans of the gunmen. The commissioner stressed that the attacks were at three different points, with the last barricade being around Kwali in the Federal Capital Territory.

Fanwo urged the relevant security agencies to investigate and avert future occurrences, as there are certain elements who are bent on painting Kogi unsafe ahead of the Governorship Poll slated for November 11, 2023. The statement called on Kogi citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements in the domain to relevant security agencies, assuring that the peace Kogi people have been enjoying in the last eight years would not be lost on the altar of violent politics.