Reports say that Sen. Dino Melaye, (APC Kogi West), narrowly escaped death again on Monday in Lokoja, but two persons were killed, when about 20 gunmen opened fire on him.
Dino was rounding off his speech at a mini rally in front of the Kogi State Polytechnic, when the guns and cutlasses wielding hoodlums emerged from nowhere.
Vehicular traffic on Lokoja -Abuja highway was disrupted for almost one hour as motorists abandoned their vehicles to escape being caught in a cross fire.
Traders at Lokoja main market also hurriedly abandoned their wares to take cover in nearby bush and houses.
A student of the polytechnic, simply identified as Saka Seidu, and one other person, were killed while two of the DSS officials attached to Melaye received gunshot injuries.
The Rector of the polytechnic, Mr Mohammed Yisah, confirmed the death of one of his students.
The senator’s black Prado Jeep was shattered with bullets and was towed to the state police command headquarters.
Police also recovered a pump action gun used in the attack.
A Sienna car loaded with arms and ammunition believed to be one of the vehicles brought by the attackers was burnt completely when a shot from security agents hit it.
A cameraman from NTA also had a raw deal in the hands of the attackers, who seized his camera.
The camera had not been retrieved as at the time of this report.
Sen. Melaye had on April 15, escaped death by whiskers, when his house at Ayetoro Gbede was attached by gunmen.
The Administrator of Ijumu Local Government and five other persons were arrested and charged to court for the attack.
The state Commissioner of police, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, later told newsmen on Momday that the Assistant Commissioner of police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department has been directed to take charge of investigation of the case.
Inalegwu said that the senator did not notify the police of his intention to hold the rally and called on politicians to give police adequate notice before holding any rally.
The state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who later visited the scene of the attack in company of the police Commissioner urged security agencies to investigate the incident with a view to bringing the culprits to justice.
The governor who also confirmed the death of one person in the incident and said that a report had earlier been made in February to the presidency, DSS and police about the intention of Melaye and his cohorts to case a breach of the peace.
He assured the people of the state of adequate security of their life and property , asking them to go about their daily activities as the situation had been brought under control.
The incident has again hit the social media, especially twitter, with Oladapo reporting: “Dino Melaye survives another assassination attempt.”
Bello Abdulrasheed tweeted that “2 killed as Governor Bello, Dino Melaye’s loyalists clash in Kogi.” – NAN.
