Standup9ja: Kogi police open up on alleged assassination attempt on Melaye
The Kogi State Police Command has reacted to the Thursday's alleged assassination attempt on the life Senator Dino Melaye.
The
lawmaker had alleged that gunmen in police and military uniforms as
well as SARS operatives fired several shots at his convoy at Aiyetoro
area of Kogi State and that he escaped by the whiskers.
Confirming
the attack via a tweet, Senator Melaye on his twitter handle
@dino_melaye wrote : "I thank God for sparing my life once again. 20
bullet holes on my jeep. Combination of police, SARS and military. God I
thank you".
However,
the police in Kogi in a statement issued by its spokesman, William Aya
said: "The Command wish to correct this wrong and misleading impression
coming from the Senator by putting the records straight.
Today
(Thursday), at about 1530hours, a team of policemen from the Command
was on a routine Anti – Robbery/Kidnapping patrol along Aiyetoro Gbede –
Mopa Road.
"During
the patrol, and as it is often the practice, the team pinned down at a
point at Iyah Gbede Junction, where they were observing the highway and
occasionally conducting Stop and Search.
"It
was in this process a long convoy of vehicles coming from Mopa towards
Aiyetoro Gbede approached the Point. Officers of the Command at the
Point flagged down the convoy.
"While
the lead vehicle, a Toyota Hilux van, which was later discovered to be
conveying officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps,
stopped to introduce themselves, other vehicles in the convoy
dangerously zoomed off without regards to the safety of the officers on
ground.
"Surprisingly,
some plain clotheed armed men, occupying a white Toyota Hilux van,
without registration number, without provocation fired gunshots at the
officers of the Anti-Robbery /Kidnapping Patrol Team.
"One
of the officers, a Sergeant, was hit by bullet on the right part of his
chest as a result of which he sustained grievous injury.
"The
Officer is currently lying critically ill in the hospital where he has
undergone a live threatening and currently recuperating. Expectedly, the
policemen in self defense responded by firing back to repel the
unexpected attack.
"Vehicles
in the convoy nevertheless, drove away from the scene. It was not until
the officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps were
questioned that it was realized that the convoy was that of
Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye.
"It
is rather unfortunate that the Senator could after this dastardly act
by his aides, be going around with armed men, unknown to the Command who
could launch such a lethal attack on police officers in the course of
their normal duty.
"It
is more saddening that the Senator could turn around to issue
misleading statements to cover up the heinous crime committed by his
hired aides.
"While,
the command has instituted a high powered investigation panel into the
incident Distinguished Senator Melaye is hereby advised to report with
people in his convoy to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police,
State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Lokoja to
assist in the investigation", the statement said.
"While the lead vehicle, a Toyota Hilux van, which was later discovered to be conveying officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, stopped to introduce themselves, other vehicles in the convoy dangerously zoomed off without regards to the safety of the officers on ground.
"Surprisingly, some plain clotheed armed men, occupying a white Toyota Hilux van, without registration number, without provocation fired gunshots at the officers of the Anti-Robbery /Kidnapping Patrol Team.
"One of the officers, a Sergeant, was hit by bullet on the right part of his chest as a result of which he sustained grievous injury.
"The Officer is currently lying critically ill in the hospital where he has undergone a live threatening and currently recuperating. Expectedly, the policemen in self defense responded by firing back to repel the unexpected attack.
"Vehicles in the convoy nevertheless, drove away from the scene. It was not until the officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps were questioned that it was realized that the convoy was that of Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye.
"It is rather unfortunate that the Senator could after this dastardly act by his aides, be going around with armed men, unknown to the Command who could launch such a lethal attack on police officers in the course of their normal duty.
"It is more saddening that the Senator could turn around to issue misleading statements to cover up the heinous crime committed by his hired aides.
"While, the command has instituted a high powered investigation panel into the incident Distinguished Senator Melaye is hereby advised to report with people in his convoy to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Lokoja to assist in the investigation", the statement said.
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