Governor Yahaya Bello Shuts Down Rumors Of Assassination Attempt On Him

Yahaya Adoza Bello, governor of Kogi State, has shut down rumors about an assassination attempt on him, noting that what took place was simply a minor argument between military personnel and police.

Bello addressed the rumor Sunday by posting a video using his official account on X, formerly Twitter. In the clip, the governor made it clear that spreading fake news would not help him in any way and that he didn't need any bad publicity.

"You are not doing me any favor by putting out fake news out there that Governor Bello escaped assassination when there was nothing of that nature," he said. "So, there are politics that could be alluded to it. I do not need to be given bad publicity whatsoever."

The governor then explained what really happened at the time he was rumored to have survived an assassination attempt. He said he was on his way to Abuja from Lokoja at around 2 p.m., and while his journey with his convoy was smooth, a "fracas" occurred two hours later.

"My convoy with the security had an encounter with another sister agency and there was a fracas," he recalled. "Immediately we weighed in and it was resolved. From there we had a smooth journey down to Abuja. Ever since I came, I have been engaged in all the activities that brought me to Abuja."

The governor disclosed that he later heard about the fake news of his assassination attempt spreading on social media, and so he now wanted to assure people that "there was no assassination attempt on me."

"Between Kogi State and FCT, it is a secured route. Thanks be to God almighty and members of the military, Police, DSS, Navy, NSCDC, Vigilantes... So, nobody could have assassinated me or anybody in my convoy," he said.

He went on to explain that it's natural to have misunderstandings between sister agencies while performing their "lawful duty." However, he shared that for the fracas that happened, he called the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army, DSS and all law enforcement agencies that were around him and on the road to investigate it.

He then assured that "whoever is culpable is punished according to the rules and regulations of the various Forces or Services," adding that this is not the time to have a misunderstanding between security agencies who, according to him, should act professionally while on duty.

Bello also said rumors like those spread about him are nothing but politics, especially as the governorship elections — which will be held in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States next month — near.