The convoy of the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, was attacked by unidentified hoodlums on Saturday near the Naval Base in Lokoja, the state capital.
The governor was returning from his trip to Abuja when the incident occurred around 12:30 pm. The hoodlums blocked the road and opened fire at the convoy, injuring some of his security aides.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed the attack in a statement. He accused the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the November 11th election in Kogi State, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, of being behind the attack.
He said Ajaka, who is a former Deputy Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was trying to use violence to disrupt the peace and security of the state ahead of the poll.
He said the governor was unhurt and there was no cause for panic. He also warned APC members not to retaliate and leave the matter to security agents.
Yahaya Bello is the youngest governor in Nigeria and a member of the APC. He has been serving as the governor of Kogi State since 2016. He was re-elected for a second term in office in 2019 and has picked a candidate from his party, APC, to face Ajaka and other candidates in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
