The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has vehemently refuted rumours and reports making the rounds suggesting that there have been assassination attempts on his life.
Social media was awash with reports on the assassination attempt on the governor while travelling from Lokoja to Abuja on Sunday.
However, clarifying the incident in a press briefing on Sunday, the governor in Abuja labelled the claims as false and should be disregarded.
He stated that the incident was a little disagreement between his personal security team and military officers tasked with securing the route, emphasising that no attempt on his life was made.
He went on to say that while there was a brief scuffle between men from the Nigerian Police Force attached to his convoy and those from a military unit monitoring the roadways, it was all part of both units fulfilling their lawful security duty.
He said, “This afternoon, at about 14:00 hrs, we took off from Lokoja to Abuja, and the journey was smooth along with my convoy.
“Just at about 16:00 hrs, my convoy, especially the security, had an encounter with another sister agency, and there was a fracas.
“I immediately waded in, and it was resolved.
“From there, we had a smooth journey down to Abuja.
“Thereafter, I began to hear on social media about an assassination attempt.
“I want to state categorically clear, dear Nigerians, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, that there was no assassination attempt on me, Yahaya Bello, the executive governor of Kogi State, by the military or by anybody.”
The governor further stated that, thanks to the relentless efforts of security personnel in the country, the Lokoja-Abuja route is very secure and devoid of criminal elements.
“Between Kogi State and FCT is a secured route,” he said. “Thanks be to God almighty and members of the military, the Nigerian Police, the DSS, the Navy, the Civil Defence, the Vigilantes, the professional hunters, and all the citizens of our dear state,” he said.
“We have been able to secure that road courtesy of these various agencies and bodies that I have enumerated.
“So, nobody would have attempted to assassinate me or anybody in my convoy,” Bello said.
