News
Gov Bello disowns his Commissioner, Fanwo, denies assassination attempt on his life
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has dismissed as false the statement issued by his Commissioner for Information Sunday afternoon in which he raised an alarm regarding an assassination attempt on the governor’s convoy while on his way to Abuja.
The governor stated categorically in a rebuttal he personally issued to journalists in Abuja Sunday evening that there was no assassination attempt whatsoever on his life as the incident that was blown out of proportion by some media outfits was a mere fracas between security operatives in his convoy and some military men on the highway.
He said that the “fracas” was resolved within five minutes and he and members of his entourage continued their journey to Abuja and wondered why somebody would raise such an alarm that he (Bello) narrowly escaped being assassinated.
The state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo had in the widely circulated statement on Sunday claimed that security men foiled an assassination attempt on the governor a few kilometres away from Abuja, on his way to an official engagement from Lokoja. Fanwo also said that the attack occurred at about 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 22, 2023.
Fanwo’s statement reads in part: “The attackers who were dressed in military uniforms waylaid the Governor’s convoy and started shooting sporadically at his vehicle and other vehicles in the convoy. It took the swift intervention of the security personnel attached to the Governor to foil the satanic plans of the unknown soldiers.
“The attacks were at three different points, the last barricade being around Kwali Federal Capital Territory at about 4.20 pm.”
Fanwo further stated that these strange attacks have been properly documented at security offices in the state and at the national level for prompt and thorough investigations to avert future occurrences just as he fingered some unidentified elements who, he said, “are bent on painting Kogi unsafe ahead of the Governorship election slated for November 11, 2023.”
But Governor Bello addressing the press a few hours later, frowned at the media publications that emanated from the press statement by the commissioner, insisting that there was no misunderstanding between his convoy and any security agency.
His words: “This afternoon at about 1400hours we took off from Lokoja to Abuja and the journey was smooth. Just about 1600hours my convoy, especially the security, had an encounter with another sister agency and there was a fracas. Immediately, we waded in and it was resolved, from there we had a smooth journey down to Abuja.
“Ever since I came I have been engaging in all the activities that brought me to Abuja and it is very smooth. Thereafter, I began to hear in the social media about assassination attempt.
“I want to state categorically clear, dear Nigerians, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, that there was no assassination attempt on me, Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State by the military or by anybody.
“Between Kogi state and FCT it is a secured route, thanks be to God Almighty and members of the military, the Nigeria Police, the DSS, the Navy, the Civil Defense, the Vigilantes, the professional hunters and all the citizens of our dear state. We have been able to secure that route courtesy (of) these various agencies I have enumerated, so nobody could have attempted to assassinate me or anybody in my convoy.
It is natural or let me put it this way, most often or sometimes there will be fracas or misunderstanding between sister agencies that are performing their lawful duties. That, sometime, cannot be ruled out but assassination attempt there is nothing like that. It has been resolved and I don’t condone any act of indiscipline.
“That fracas to even have happened in the first place, I have called on the Nigeria Police, the NIgeria Army, the DSS and all law enforcement agencies that are around me and on the road to investigate it and ensure that whoever is culpable is punished according to rules and regulations of the various services.”
Describing himself as a law-abiding citizen, Bello noted that the security men had done greatly in security lives and livelihood and “I respect men in uniform.”
He said that all the accolades, the awards and all the successes recorded in Kogi was as a result of the collaborations between all the agencies and his government and the people of the state.
“So there is no how we at this wee hours that we need each other most to make sure that the renewed hope of our president is sustained and the dividends of democracy is delivered to our people, so it is not this time that we should be having any misunderstanding. So, any unruly personnel whether that of the police or otherwise, I am urging all these law enforcement agencies to investigate it,” he said.
A middle-aged man has been arrested over alleged involvement in gruesome murder of his employer, a Pentecostal Bishop of End-reconciliation Ministry Asaba, Delta State.
The suspect was said to have also attempted to dispose of the deceased Toyota Prado Jeep in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State before his arrest.
Confirming the incident on Wednesday while briefing newsmen, Commissioner of Police, State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu said the suspect was arrested together with his accomplice alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
The vehicle of the murdered Bishop
He said the stolen vehicle was also recovered from the suspects during the operation.
According to Orutugu, “The breakthrough followed a swift intelligence-led operation by Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, which led to the arrest of the suspect and another individual alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect, who served as the Bishop’s driver and domestic staff, allegedly conspired with yet-to-be-identified criminal elements to murder the cleric before fleeing with the victim’s Prado Jeep to Anambra State for sale.
“Police Operatives, acting on credible information, tracked and intercepted the suspects in Nkpor, successfully recovered the stolen vehicle, and took them into custody for further interrogation.”
According to CP, investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang involved in the incident and fully unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate murder.
He advised residents to exercise due diligence in the recruitment and management of domestic staff, drivers, and other household employees.
Orutugu also urged members of the public to properly profile and verify the identities of persons employed in their homes and establishments, while also remaining vigilant to suspicious behaviours and activities.
“We assure the public that the Command remains committed to proactive policing, intelligence-driven operations, and collaboration with sister security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property across the State.
While speaking to newsmen, the bishop’s driver said, “immediately we arrived home and my boss asked me to open the gate, I didn’t know that some people were trailing behind us.
“One of them rushed me, ordered me to lie down and marched my head and hit it with the gun. They went inside and met my master.
“They threatened to kill me if I raise alarm or call the police. They asked me to contact someone from Onitsha who will buy the vehicle. The buyers came this morning and took the vehicle.”
A personal driver of a Pentecostal bishop of End-Reconciliation Ministry in Asaba, Delta State, has been arrested for allegedly killing his employer and fleeing with his vehicle, a Toyota Prado Jeep.
The driver, whose identity has yet to be disclosed due to ongoing investigations, was arrested alongside another suspect in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, while attempting to sell the vehicle.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Ikioye Orutugu, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Command’s headquarters in Awka, on Wednesday, adding that the suspect murdered the cleric before fleeing with his vehicle to Anambra to sell.
Orutugu said the arrest followed a swift intelligence-led operation by operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, which led to the arrest of the suspect and another individual alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
He said the driver conspired with some criminal elements still at large, to kill his employer, adding that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang involved in the incident and fully unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate murder.
He said, “The operatives of the Anambra State Police Command arrested a domestic staff member allegedly involved in the gruesome murder of his employer, a Pentecostal Bishop of End-Reconciliation Ministry in Asaba, Delta State, and the subsequent attempt to dispose of the victim’s Toyota Prado Jeep in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“The breakthrough followed a swift intelligence-led operation by Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, which led to the arrest of the suspect and another individual alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect, who served as the Bishop’s driver and domestic staff, allegedly conspired with yet-to-be-identified criminal elements to murder the cleric before fleeing with the victim’s Prado Jeep to Anambra State for sale.
“Police operatives, acting on credible information, tracked and intercepted the suspects in Nkpor, successfully recovered the stolen vehicle, and took them into custody for further interrogation.”
The CP stated that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang involved in the incident and fully unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate murder.
Orutugu advised the public to exercise due diligence in the recruitment and management of domestic staff, drivers, and other household employees.
He urged members of the public to properly profile and verify the identities of persons employed in their homes and establishments, while also remaining vigilant to suspicious behaviours and activities.
“We assured the public that the Command remains committed to proactive policing, intelligence-driven operations and collaboration with sister security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property across the State,” the CP added. (The PUNCH)
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, over alleged money laundering offences.
A source within the anti-graft agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, disclosed on Wednesday that Abdullahi was arrested in Abuja and is currently in the custody of the commission.
According to the source, the alleged fraud involves funds estimated at N500bn.
“We have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, for money laundering offences. He was arrested and is currently in our custody. The money Is to the tune of N500bn,” the official said.
Efforts to get confirmation from the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, were unsuccessful as he could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.
President Bola Tinubu had on October 24, 2023 appointed Abdullahi as Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria.
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