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Kogi: Governor Bello’s Convoy Attacked By Gunmen, SDP Accused As Perpetrators

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In a recent incident, the Kogi Government reported that a group of gunmen attacked the convoy of Governor Yahaya Bello on Saturday.

 

The attack occurred along the Abuja-Lokoja highway, specifically in close proximity to a Naval Base situated a few kilometers away from Lokoja, the capital city of the state.

 

According to the Kogi Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, who issued a statement in Lokoja, the gunmen responsible for the attack on Governor Yahaya Bello’s convoy were alleged to be political thugs affiliated with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), an opposition political party in the state.

 

Providing details of the incident, the commissioner stated that the attack occurred around 12:30 p.m. and resulted in multiple injuries, including security aides who were accompanying Governor Yahaya Bello.

 

The injured individuals were promptly transported to the hospital to receive the necessary medical attention.

 

“The gunmen suspected to be political thugs of the SDP, having sighted the convoy of  Bello approaching,  blocked the road and started shooting at the convoy.

 

“A Tundra branded with the logo and flags of the party also blocked the governor’s vehicle and the occupants were armed with rifles and short guns. But thank God our governor left the scene unscathed and there is no cause for panic.

 

“Some security aides and other aides attached to the governor sustained some degrees of injuries and have been rushed to medical facilities for attention.

 

“We urge the people of Kogi to remain calm as security agents are in full control to ensure the arrest of the hoodlums behind the attack, ” he added.

 

Expressing the government’s determination to maintain law and order, Commissioner Fanwo assured that the Kogi state government would take all necessary measures to ensure that the attackers are apprehended and held accountable for their actions.

 

He emphasized that Governor Yahaya Bello had cautioned members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against engaging in any retaliatory acts, as any form of insecurity would be met with severe consequences.

 

In response to the allegations made by the commissioner, Mr. Kunle Afolayo, the Media Aide to the SDP Governorship Candidate, Mr. Yakubu Ajaka, refuted the claims and stated that the situation was quite the opposite.

 

According to Afolayo, it was the political thugs associated with Governor Bello who instigated the attack on their group.

 

He said “It was the other way round because it was his political thugs that attacked us.Is it possible for an opposition political party to attack a governor just like that?

 

“We were on our way to the Palace of Maigari in Lokoja from Koton Karfe this afternoon, when the governor’s convoy, heading to Lokoja from Abuja, met us on the way and launched an attack on us just like that.

 

“God knows the truth. It’s unfortunate that APC administration in Kogi is using government might against us and to lie against us for a crime they committed against us, ” the media aide added.

NEWS

Showunmi Urges South-East to Judge Tinubu by Projects, Not Propaganda

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Otunba Segun Showunmi, a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for 2027, has urged the South-East to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration based on verifiable projects and measurable results rather than political propaganda.

Showunmi made the call in a statement posted on X on Saturday, urging Nigerians to evaluate the government’s performance based on infrastructure delivery, funds committed to projects and their impact on communities.

He said federal infrastructure initiatives targeting the South-East under Tinubu’s administration deserved serious scrutiny and factual assessment, adding that unfulfilled promises should continue to be pursued until the expected results were delivered.

SEE ALSO: 2027 Election: ‘Look Beyond the Noise’ – Showunmi Urges Nigerians to Give Tinubu More Time

“Our message is clear: We will not trade facts for propaganda, nor accountability for political loyalty!” he said.

The political figure challenged critics of the administration to provide evidence to support their claims, while urging those defending the government to present the projects and demonstrate their impact.

He also called on government officials to publish relevant figures, disclose project timelines and provide measurable results, insisting that no public official should be exempt from scrutiny.

According to Showunmi, the South-East deserves infrastructure that supports economic growth, including roads that connect markets, investments that create jobs and policies that expand economic opportunities.

He maintained that political representation must translate into tangible benefits for citizens, stressing that public office should deliver value to the people.

As part of his call to action, Showunmi urged Nigerians to scrutinise government records, challenge misinformation with evidence and demand the completion of outstanding projects.

He further called for public commitments to be matched by measurable delivery, arguing that leadership should be assessed by facts and results rather than political rhetoric.

Ending his statement with the slogan, “Asiwaju is a goal,” Showunmi called for accountability and greater inclusion of the South-East in Nigeria’s development.

Showunmi is associated with The Alternative and is a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.

 

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Lagos: LASTMA Announces Traffic Restrictions Along Route to Toll Gate

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The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Saturday announced a temporary road closure near Apostolic Church, inward Toll Gate, to allow engineers to install a beam on a height-restriction structure.

The agency said the installation was aimed at preventing high-rise trailers from accessing the newly constructed pedestrian bridge.

ALSO READ: LASTMA Alerts Motorists to Traffic Delays on Ogunnusi Road

“Currently, one lane has been occupied to facilitate the ongoing construction work, while the remaining two lanes are available to motorists,” LASTMA stated.

The agency advised road users to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of its personnel deployed to the area.

“Road users are advised to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of our personnel who are on ground to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular movement,” the statement added.

LASTMA also urged motorists to remain patient while the installation work continued.

“Motorists are encouraged to exercise patience while the installation work is in progress,” the agency stated.

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‘Oseni Rufai Helped Me, Not NiDCOM’ — Ekene Chukwuma on Return to Nigeria

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Nigerian national Ekene Chukwuma has said he returned to Nigeria with assistance linked to Oseni Rufai rather than the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), while renewing allegations against the commission’s chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, over his travel documents.

Chukwuma made the remarks in an interview in which he explained how he returned to Nigeria after spending months at a deportation camp in India.

RELATED NEWS: Rufai Oseni Row: NiDCOM Breaks Silence on Nigerians Detained in India, Addresses Ekene’s Case

“My name is Kenneth Chukwu, from Enugu State,” he said, introducing himself before explaining how he returned to the country.

“I came back here with the assist of Osini Roufai, a good friend of him,” he said.

Chukwuma denied that NiDCOM facilitated his return, alleging that the commission had published false information about his case.

“NiDCOM made a lots of false, uh, news acquisition against me, which is still in Abike Dabiri handle in Twitter,” he said.

He also accused Dabiri-Erewa of sharing his expired international passport and a travel certificate he claimed was issued six months after he entered the detention camp.

“He also, she also posted my international passport that expired. He also, she also posted my TC that issued after 6 months,” he said.

His comments renew questions surrounding the handling of his case and the circumstances under which he obtained the documents needed to return to Nigeria.

Chukwuma’s detention in India previously sparked a public disagreement between ARISE News presenter Oseni Rufai and Dabiri-Erewa over NiDCOM’s response to reports of his situation.

Oseni raised concerns about Chukwuma’s detention and the commission’s handling of the case, while Dabiri-Erewa defended NiDCOM’s position and explained the process for submitting information to the commission.

NiDCOM subsequently issued its account of Chukwuma’s detention, stating that he had been arrested in India over a visa overstay and addressing the circumstances surrounding his travel documents.

The differing accounts prompted public debate about the commission’s response to Nigerians facing immigration difficulties abroad.

 

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