By Charles Adingupu
As the governorship election draws near, an unspecified number of hoodlums suspected to be political thugs attacked the convoy of the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, injuring some of his security aides.
The attack which occurred around 12 noon on Saturday near the Naval Base, a few kilometres from Lokoja, the state capital was alleged to be masterminded by political opponents in the state.
The hoodlums reportedly barricaded the road, and shot sporadically at the convoy of the governor, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo stated.
The Commissioner who fingered a prominent member of the opposition as being responsible for the attack, however, said the governor was not hurt.
“The Governor left the scene unscathed and there is no cause for panic as the Governor is in high spirit,” the commissioner stated even as he called on security agents to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“The Governor has warned that no APC member should involve in any reprisal attack as insecurity from any quarter will be met with stiff penalties,” the statement added.
The attack occurred as the political climate in Kogi is becoming charged ahead of the November 11 governorship poll in the North Central state.
Bello’s two-term tenure of eight years ends in November. Earlier in April, Bello’s ally and former Auditor General of Local Government in Kogi State, Usman Ododo emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.
Ododo is in the race alongside Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), amongst others.
