Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has dismissed as untrue reports of an assassination attempt on his life on the Abuja-Lokoja road on Sunday.
He spoke against the backdrop of his Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo’s claims of an assassination attempt on the governor’s life.
Fanwo had, in a statement, raised the alarm that the governor’s convoy was attacked by unknown gunmen on its way to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Sunday evening.
The governor, however, told journalists in Abuja that what actually happened was a minor incident involving his official convoy and some security operatives on the road.
According to Governor Bello, there was a minor misunderstanding between men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) attached to him and those manning a military unit on the Abuja-Lokoja highway.
He said that the incident took place in the course of both units trying to carry out their lawful duties as security operatives.
He lauded the security agencies for their joint contributions to the improved security as well as the safety of life and property.
He also acknowledged that the existing arrangements had been quite beneficial to the good people of Kogi State.
Governor Bello urged the top hierarchy of the security agencies involved in the Sunday incident to investigate what he described as the unprofessional conduct and overzealousness by any of the operatives on duty and “apply the appropriate sanctions where necessary.”
Governor Bello charged the citizens and all residents of Kogi State to ignore any attempt by political profiteers to deploy the incident in their unwholesome plans at unsettling the polity ahead of the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial poll in the Confluence state.
He assured the state of both his security and safety, stressing that adequate security arrangements were being put in place to ensure that the forthcoming election was not only peaceful, but also free and fair.