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Police blame Yahaya Bello’s ‘unruly’ convoy for clash with military operatives
The Nigeria Police Force, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has said it has begun investigations into the Sunday shoot out involving Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello’s convoy and Nigerian military personnel.
The Police however said Yahaya Bello’s the convoy’s unruliness was responsible for the clash with the military men.
The Kogi State government initially alleged assassination attempt on Governor Bello by “unknown soldiers.”
The FCT Police commissioner, Haruna Garba, in an interview in Abuja said the crises followed the refusal of the Governor’s motorcade to stop at the military checkpoint.
The CP said: “Preliminary investigation showed that the alleged attack was a result of an altercation between the military personnel at a checkpoint and the Governor’s motorcade. An investigation revealed that the crisis followed the refusal of the Governor’s motorcade to stop at the military checkpoint.”
The controversy started with the smashing of the checkpoint of Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Lugard, code named NNS Lugard in Banda by the Governor’s convoy and their inability to stop at the FCT Nigerian Army checkpoint manned by Presidential Guards Brigade contingent, even when blocked.
The Governor’s convoy, going from Kogi to Abuja, having refused to stop and smashed into the NNS Lugard checkpoint at Banda.
The Naval personnel on duty reportedly radioed the 176 Guard Brigade checkpoint at Abaji to block the convoy when it got there for proper identification.
Unfortunately, the convoy, manned mainly by Nigeria Police personnel, refused to stop.
“Yahaya Bello’s convoy rudely smashed a naval checkpoint in Banda in Lokoja, so the naval personnel now informed people in Abaji and they now blocked them.
“During the confrontation, four soldiers were wounded by the Governor’s gunmen. The checkpoint has always been there but the Governor refused to stop. Two persons in the Governor’s convoy were wounded.”
But the Governor and his team initially misread the incident, rushing to the media to accuse “unknown soldiers” of a plot to assassinate him.
According to the statement by Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo: “The Kogi State Government wishes to inform the general public that there was an assassination attempt on the Governor of the State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON, a few kilometres away from Abuja, on his way to an official engagement from Lokoka. The attack occurred at about 4pm on Sunday, October 22, 2023.
“The attackers who were dressed in military uniforms waylaid the Governor’s convoy and started shooting sporadically at his vehicle and other vehicles in the convoy.”
While the attack was reportedly foiled by the quick intervention of the security agents, the Commissioner blamed it on the activities of certain people who were trying to display the state as unsafe ahead of the governorship election scheduled for next month.
“It took the swift intervention of the security personnel attached to the Governor to foil the satanic plans of the unknown soldiers. The attacks were at three different points, the last barricade being around Kwali Federal Capital Territory at about 4.20pm.
“The report of these strange attacks has been properly documented at security offices in the state and at the national level for prompt and thorough investigations to avert future occurrences.
“We are not oblivious of the fact that certain elements are bent on painting Kogi unsafe ahead of the Governorship Poll slated for November 11, 2023. As an administration, we will spare nothing to ensure our citizens are not subjected to security threats by desperate politicians sponsoring violence and terrorism.
“We call on the citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements in the domain to relevant security agencies. It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure security and we want to assure you that the peace we have enjoyed as a state in the last eight years won’t be lost on the altar of violent politics.”
But Governor later countered his Commissioner for Information and Communications, declaring that there was no attempt on his life by “unknown soldiers,” telling in Abuja on Sunday evening that “there was only a minor fracas between men of the Nigerian Police Force attached to his convoy and those of a military unit manning the highways. It was in the course of both units performing their lawful security duties that the incident happened.”
The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Thursday, deliver judgments in two cases involving the leadership crises rocking the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to information on the official website of the court, the matters, listed under “Political Appeals”, have been added to the cause list for Thursday, April 30, 2026.
While judgment in the ADC matter, marked SC/CV/180/2026, has been fixed for 2 pm, there is no time yet for that if the PDP.
President Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of fifteen nominees to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The letter was read by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The letter seeks the reconstitution of the commission’s board in line with statutory provisions with the list comprising nominees from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media and legal sectors.
Among the nominees are the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba; and Dr. Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman, who has been proposed as chairman of the board.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) is to retain his position as the Chief Executive Officer.
Other nominees include Mrs Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Mr. Edmund Chinonye, Mr. Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, and Otunba Francis Meshioye as members.
Also nominated are Patience Patrick and Hawwa Ibrahim, listed as members.
The President said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers him to constitute the board subject to Senate confirmation.
He explained that the reconstitution of the board was necessary to enhance the commission’s institutional capacity and enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate to promote and protect human rights across the country.
If confirmed, the new board is expected to play a critical role in reinforcing the NHRC’s oversight functions, particularly at a time of heightened concerns over rights protection and accountability in Nigeria.
Following the presentation of the request, the Senate referred the nominations to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and report within two weeks.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has revealed that it investigated the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze, for six months over suspected money laundering before clearing him.
Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Commission, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja.
According to him, the probe was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions after the commission observed large inflows of foreign currencies into the cleric’s domiciliary account.
“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was an account, a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops, from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo.
“I said who is this man? Yes, I’ve been hearing about his name, I’ve seen his face a couple of times. I never bothered about what he was doing. I knew he was a pastor.
“So they said this one pastor of streams of joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books,” Olukoyede stated.
The EFCC boss said he subsequently invited Eze for questioning after preliminary findings were compiled by investigators.
He added that upon meeting the cleric and reviewing the findings of the investigation, the commission found no wrongdoing.
“So he came to my office. He told me what happens and all of that, and how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people, and all of that.
“I said, you know what, I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We have already done our work. I called you here to commend you,” he stated.
The remark drew applause from the audience, as Eze, who was present at the event, acknowledged the commendation.
He noted that the commission has a responsibility not only to investigate financial crimes but also to recognise individuals found to have acted with integrity.
The EFCC chairman, however, stated that the agency would continue to monitor financial activities where necessary, stressing that its preventive mandate remains critical in tackling corruption.
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