Kogi Senator 'escapes assassination' in Lokoja

Lokoja witnessed a violent clash between supporters of controversial Senator Dino Melaye and Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaha Bello on Monday, June 12, 2017.

The senator is currently battling calls of a recall from voters in his Kogi West constituency, calls he has alleged is being sponsored by Bello.

His arrival in the state capital to address his supporters is reported to have sparked a gun battle that lasted for over an hour between supporters on both sides of the divide.

Gunshots are reported to have rang out among the crowd midway into Melaye's address, with one person said to have been shot.

The arrival of both the Special Adviser to the state governor, Air Commodore Jerry OModara and the State Commissioner of Police Wilson Inalevu is said to have put a stop to any further violence.

The embattled senator took to his Twitter handle (@dino_melaye) to narrate what had transpired in a series of tweets.

"Two of my vehicles seveally damaged with gunshots. Told one of the commissioners to Bello and LG caretaker chairman moved one of my cars," he started.

He accused the troublemakers of being government-sponsored, tweeting, "Attackers are Govt house police with some criminals accompanied by lokoja caretaker chairman & one Abduullahi Dollar who is SA political"

The senator further claimed that two people were wounded in the clash claiming it was an assassination attempt, "Just escaped another assassination in lokoja. Cant say if anyone died but 2 people with gun wound are presently receiving treatment at DSS.."

He continued, "A car was burnt to ashes.

"I can not be muted. I must continue to speak for the traumatised civil servants and Pensioners of kogi State"

An hour later, Melaye started tweeting again, thanking the Department of State Services (DSS) for saving his life, "There was serious exchange of gun shots between d DSS,policemen and Govt assassins.DSS I thank u for saving my life after God."

As a follow-up, he also tweeted, "I thank God for my bullet proof car"

Prior to the clash, some youths had reportedly gathered at Okebukun, a community in Kabba/Bunnu local government, awaiting Melaye's convoy in a bid to deny him road access to his Ayetoro-Gbede hometown.

The senator has claimed that plans to recall him will fail after voters in the seven local government areas that make up his district went to polling units to endorse the request on Saturday.