Kogi State government, yesterday, alleged that there was an assassination attempt on Governor Yahaya Bello on his way to attend an official assignment in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

A statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said the attack occurred at about 4:00 p.m., a few kilometres away from Abuja.

According to him, 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, adding that it took the swift intervention of the security personnel attached to the governor to foil what he described as the satanic plans of the unknown soldiers.

He said: “The Kogi State Government wishes to inform the public that there was an assassination attempt on the governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, a few kilometres away from Abuja, on his way to an official engagement from Lokoja.

“The attack occurred at about 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 22, 2023.

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

“The attacks were at three different points, the last barricade being around Kwali in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at about 4.20 p.m.

“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 election slated for November 11, 2023. As an administration, we will spare nothing to ensure that citizens are not subjected to security threats by desperate politicians sponsoring violence and terrorism.

“We call on the citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements in the domain to relevant security agencies. 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 won’t be lost on the altar of violent politics.

“The attackers and their motive are yet unknown,” he added.