The Kogi State Police Command have distanced themselves from the report by the Senator representing Kogi west district at the National Assembly, Dino Melaye.
Melaye had on Thursday alleged that unknown gunmen in military uniforms pelted his vehicle with gunshots.
The police admonished the senator and his entourage to report to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Lokoja.
Senator Dino Melaye had tweeted that he thanked God for sparing his life once again as over 20 bullets holes were on his jeep and alleging that a combination of police, SARS and military were the one responsible for the bullets holes.
Putting things into perspective, the Kogi Police said that on ‘Thursday at about 1530hours, a team of policemen from the Command was on a routine Anti – Robbery/Kidnapping patrol along Aiyetoro Gbede – Mopa Road and 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 for the safety of the officers on ground.
Continuing, the policed reported that ‘surprisingly, some plain clothed armed men, occupying a white Toyota Hilux van, without registration numbers, 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 convalescing in a hospital
‘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.
The police said it was ‘rather unfortunate that Senator Dino 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’
In an earlier development on Wednesday , suspected political thugs destroyed some constituency projects of Senator Dino at two Locations in Lokoja metropolis, few hours to their inauguration.
One of the projects, a block of four furnished classrooms at Government Girls Secondary School, Sarkin-Noma, was set ablaze in the wee hours of that day
Speaking with newsmen, a female student of the school (name withheld) said she got to school early this morning (Wednesday) to meet the fully-furnished classroom on fire.
She said students, who were concluding their exams were turned back as a result of the incident as chairs, desks, boards and all wooden furniture, as well as electrical appliances, were burnt to ashes.
Also destroyed at UBE Junior Secondary School (JSS), Lokongoma in Lokoja, were the iron windows, ceilings, white boards and electrical fittings, including ceiling fans in the block of four classrooms.
When visited , a detachment of men of the Nigeria Police were seen in and around the school premises to provide security against further attack on the project.
The attack on the (Sen. Dino Melaye Constituency Project FCT/TB/2016(2)001) Lokongoma project, was alleged to have been perpetrated by unknown group of youthful thugs, at about 2:30 am on Wednesday, forcing the civilian security guards to take to their heels
Speaking on behalf of the government when he visited the site of the burnt facilities, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, Director General, Media and Publicity to the state governor, said state government had directed security operatives to fish out the arsonists.
“Irrespective of who is doing the project, the fund is from the government;whether it is the executive or legislature, such projects should rather be applauded, and not destroyed,” he said.
Mrs Rosemary Osinkoya, the state Commissioner for Education, who also visited the sites, said government would not rest until the perpetrators were fished out and brought to book.
“Exams are ongoing and these building has been in use since January 2018. We expect that people will respect the sanctity of education. This act is masterminded and not accidental”, she said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr Monday Kuryas, while speaking with newsmen shortly after inspecting the extent of damage on the facilities, said the long arm of the law would catch up with the perpetrators, sooner or later.
He said the arson and other destruction were pre-meditated as the arsonists braced with tyres which they used in burning down the building and damaging some other structures.
Kuryas said investigations are in progress on the matter and those responsible would soon be apprehended. Earlier on Tuesday, a yet to be identified thuggery group had on issued leaflets warning the senator to forget about the scheduled constituency projects inauguration or face their ire in full.
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