Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has vehemently refuted recent reports suggesting an assassination attempt during his journey to Abuja on Sunday.
Initially, Kogi’s Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, issued a statement detailing an attack on Governor Bello’s convoy by unidentified gunmen.
However, when addressing the media in Abuja, Governor Bello strongly dismissed these claims as baseless and urged the public to disregard them.
He provided a more accurate account, explaining that the incident amounted to a minor altercation between his personal security detail and the military personnel responsible for road protection.
The governor emphasized that the dispute primarily revolved around the Nigeria Police Force members accompanying his convoy and the military unit tasked with securing the highways, all while they were diligently fulfilling their respective security responsibilities.
Bello, who commended the security agencies for their joint contributions to the improved security of lives and property, however, called on the high command of the agencies involved to investigate overzealousness or unprofessional conduct by any of their men involved in the incident and apply the necessary sanctions.
“I want to state categorically very clear, dear Nigerians, that there was no assassination attempt on me by the military or by anybody,” he said.
Bello called on Kogi State residents to ignore any attempt by political profiteers to use the incident to unsettle the polity as the state’s 2023 governorship election slated for November 11 draws nearer.
He assured the state of both his safety and the adequacy of security arrangements to ensure that the election is peaceful, free and fair.
