The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, on Thursday escaped assassination attempt as gunmen allegedly fired shots on his convoy at Ayetoro-Gbede in Ijumu local government area of the state.
Our correspondent learnt that the gunmen, who were in police uniforms allegedly attacked Dino while on his way to Yagba area to inaugurate his constituency projects.
Confirming the attack via a tweet, Senator Melaye on his twitter handle @dino_melaye wrote : "I thank God for sparing my life once again. 20 bullet holes on my jeep. Combination of police, SARS and military. God I thank".
Also speaking on the incident, the special assistant to the Senator on media, Gideon Ayodele, said Melaye’s convoy was attacked around the junction close to the residence of the former military governor of old Oyo state, David Jemibewon in Ayetoro.
It was also gathered that some hoodlums had in the morning prevented the lawmaker from entering Isanlu, headquarters of Yagba east local government area for the inauguration of his constituency projects.
The people were said to have blocked the road with a caterpillar that belonged to the local government, while they made bonfires on the remaining portion of the road.
Spokesman of the Kogi Police Command, William Aya could not be reached for comments as he never responded to several calls put across to him.
But in a statement issued by the Spokesman of the Kogi State Governor, Kingsley Fanwo said the Governor has directed the State Security Adviser, Navy Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd) "to arrest the tides of unrest in some communities in the state, warning Local Government Administrators in the state to maintain law and order in their domains."
According to the Governor, “anyone who is found to have breached public peace and constitutionalism shall be made to face the full wrath of the law”.
The statement noted that Governor Bello "condemns in totality, the unfortunate incidents in Lokoja, Isanlu and Mopa in which there were violent confrontations between the security operatives in the convoy of Sen. Dino Melaye and youth in some flash points in Kogi West Senatorial District.
He warned politicians to stop arming thugs and to desist from acts which could foul the peace experienced in the state.
The governor urged security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate violence in the aforementioned locations with a view to averting future occurrence; expressing his determination to contain the gradual return of political brigandage to the political environment of the state.
He urged parents to warn their wards against acts capable of puncturing the peace of the state as government will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law against anyone found reversing the gains of the state regarding the security of lives and property.
“As a Government, we will not condone thuggery and violence and anyone who crosses such red lines shall be reminded of the determination of the new direction of Government to stamp out insecurity in the state,” he said.
