Bello Blames His Convoy Shooting on Disagreement between Security Detail and Checkpoint Troops

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has dismissed report of gunmen shooting on his convoy in Abuja on Sunday.

Bello said there was no attempt on his life as earlier reported by his Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo.

Fanwo on Sunday evening had issued a statement that the governor’s convoy came under attack on his way from Lokoja to Abuja on official duty.

According to the commissioner, gunmen dressed in military uniform opened gunfire on the vehicle of the governor and others in the convoy at a military checkpoint in Abuja.

But the governor addressing newsmen later on Sunday at his Abuja residence said the shooting incident was not targeting him, but a disagreement between his security details and soldiers manning a checkpoint.

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He explained that both his security details and the soldiers at the checkpoint were performing their lawful duties.

The governor, however, asked the defense headquarters to investigate what he termed the unprofessional conduct of soldiers at the checkpoint.

Bello also cautioned against the politicization of the incident in Kogi State.

Fanwo said the state government would not allow any breakdown of law and order but would do all it could to bring the attackers to justice.

According to him, the governor has warned that no APC member should get involved in any reprisal attack as insecurity from any quarter will be met with stiff penalties.

Responding, Mr Kunle Afolayo, Media Aide to the SDP Governorship Candidate, Mr Yakubu Ajaka, denied the allegations saying: “It was the other way round because it was his political thugs that attacked us.”

“Is it possible for an opposition political party to attack a governor just like that?

“We were on our way to the Palace of Maigari in Lokoja from Koton Karfe this afternoon, when the governor’s convoy, heading to Lokoja from Abuja, met us on the way and launched an attack on us just like that.

“God knows the truth. It’s unfortunate that APC administration in Kogi is using government might against us and to lie against us for a crime they committed against us, ” the media aide said.