Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has clarified the incident earlier reported by the state as an assassination attempt on him, saying it was a minor disagreement between his security detail and military personnel securing the highway. 

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, Governor Bello clarified that while there was a minor altercation between men of the Nigerian Police Force attached to his convoy and those of a military unit manning the highways, it was in the course of both units performing their lawful security duties. 

This comes a few hours after a statement released by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, described the attacks as one that took place at three different points “with the last barricade being around Kwali Federal Capital Territory at about 4.20 pm”.

“The attackers, dressed in military uniforms, waylaid the Governor’s convoy and started shooting sporadically at his vehicle and other vehicles. 

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

But Bello, while commending the security agencies for their joint contributions to the improved security of lives and property enjoyed by the citizens of Kogi State, 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. 

The Governor called on state citizens 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. 

This follows Fanwo’s earlier assertions; “We are not oblivious that certain elements are bent on painting Kogi unsafe ahead of the Governorship Poll slated for November 11, 2023. 

“As an administration, we will spare nothing to ensure our citizens are not subjected to security threats by desperate politicians sponsoring violence and terrorism.”

However, Governor Bello assured citizens of the state of his safety and the adequacy of security arrangements to ensure that the elections will be peaceful, free and fair.