In a shocking turn of events, security personnel protecting the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Governorship Candidate in Kogi State, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, successfully repelled gun attacks by thugs allegedly affiliated with State Governor Yahaya Bello
The incident occurred on Friday as Ajaka’s campaign train made its way from a rally to the town’s Central Mosque for Jumat Prayers.
This wasn’t the first attack of the day in Koton-Karfi.
Earlier, thugs had opened fire at the rally venue when supporters began gathering, causing chaos and destruction.
The attackers, armed with sophisticated assault rifles, targeted event equipment, including the podium, canopies, chairs, and public address systems.
Bullets pierced giant speakers, hundreds of chairs and canopies were destroyed, and the gunfire lasted for over 15 minutes.
Despite these acts of violence, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, who arrived at the venue later, commended supporters for their bravery and condemned Governor Bello’s penchant for violence.
He urged his supporters not to be intimidated, stating, “This is to tell you the kind of people that have been ruling us and are desperate to continue to force themselves on us.”
While leaving the rally venue, Ajaka’s motorcade encountered a barricade on the road, leading to another round of sporadic gunfire.
Security personnel responded by firing into the air to deter the attackers, eventually causing them to retreat.
Thankfully, there were no immediate fatalities, but several people sustained gunshot wounds.
The Murtala Yakubu Ajaka Gubernatorial Campaign Organization has officially reported the attack to the Kogi office of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the State Police Command.
Earlier in the day, reports indicated that Kogi State Director of DSS, Mr. Tosin Ajayi, and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Onuoha Bethrand, had spent hours convincing Governor Bello not to stage a one-million-man march in Koton-Karfi to clash with the SDP Rally.
Security agencies had been informed of the SDP event weeks earlier, and Governor Bello would have been held responsible if violence erupted.
The attacks by thugs believed to be under the control of Governor Bello’s commissioner for the local government area, Bashir Gegu, were seen as an alternative plan to cause mayhem and intimidate the SDP candidate, similar to the June 3, 2023 attack when Governor Bello personally led a convoy to assault Ajaka in Lokoja.
Since then, several SDP supporters have lost their lives, many more have been injured, and properties, including the State Headquarters of the SDP and three Local Government Area offices, were set ablaze by individuals identified as Bello’s thugs.
The Muritala Yakubu Ajaka Gubernatorial Campaign Organization is now calling on the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DGDSS), and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to intervene and address the escalating violence in Kogi State before it leads to further tragedy.
Source:
Faruk Adejoh-Audu, Director of Communications, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka Gubernatorial Campaign Organization, Social Democratic Party (SDP), September 29, 2023
