While it was quite peaceful in most APC controlled states in the country due to the June 12 public holidays, it was an entirely different scenario in
While it was quite peaceful in most APC controlled states in the country due to the June 12 public holidays, it was an entirely different scenario in Lokoja the Kogi State capital as the day ended on a violent note.
At a peaceful protest organised by Senator Dino Melaye to compel the state government to pay civil servants their salaries and open shut tertiary institutions in the state, unknown gunmen fully armed interrupted the protest and opened fire at Melaye and other protesters leaving one person dead and several others seriously injured.
This happened at the main gate of the Kogi State Polytechnic at about 10 a.m. where the rally held. Melaye, who had already finished addressing the students, had given the state government a 30-day ultimatum to pay workers’ salaries and reopen the tertiary institutions, warning that failure to do so would compel him to lead a civil protest at the expiration of the ultimatum.
Melaye, who escaped death by a whisker, took cover when the gunmen opened fire on him. The security personnel attached to Melaye quickly responded in an exchange of gunfire. At the end of the bloody confrontation, a student of the state polytechnic named Seidu died in the cross fire. He was said to be a supporter of Melaye. There are unconfirmed reports that Seidu was allegedly shot dead by Melaye’s security details.
Seidu’s death led to a serious clash between the supporters of the governor and that of Melaye. The exchange of gun fire between the two groups lasted over one hour before the arrival of both the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the State Governor Air Commodore Jerry Omodara (retd.) and the state Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu.
Two vehicles were burned down during the crossfire, including a Toyota Sienna bus filled with guns and ammunition. The incident, which took place in Felele along the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja highway, on the outskirts of the town, led to many commuters abandoning their vehicles, as they fled for their lives.
Inalegwu blamed Melaye for the clash, saying the senator did not obtain police permit for the rally adding that he would report Melaye to the authorities.
Melaye described the invasion of his rally as the second assassination attempt on his life and that two of the operatives of the Department of State Services attached to him were shot by the gunmen. He however denied that his supporters killed the deceased, but however handed over a pump action gun recovered from Seidu to the DSS office in Lokoja.
The governor, who visited the scene of the incident with some security men at about 3.15pm, said he was shocked about the development. He urged the security agents to investigate the incident and confirmed that only one person lost his life during the shootout.
