Gov Bello, Melaye face-off turns bloody as 5 allegedly shot dead in protest

The worsening face-off between Senator Dino Melaye and Kogi State’s Governor Yahaya Bello, may have taken a dangerous turn as five people were reportedly shot dead on Monday during a protest.

The five people it was learnt, were shot at the gate of Kogi State polytechnic, Lokoja, where Senator Melaye was allegedly holding a protest against Governor Bello.

The protest, said to have begun around 11am with many supporters of the senator present and cheering, however turned bloody after yet to be identified gunmen emerged at the scene of the protest and started shooting at the protesters.

The gunmen reportedly stormed the venue with assorted weapons including guns and cutlasses.

The Army and the state Commissioner of Police were said to have arrived the scene about an hour after the gunmen left the place and by which time five people had already been gunned down.

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Eyewitnesses, who said the number of casualties may rise beyond five, added that a vehicle caught fire during the attacks and that several people sustained varying wounds and injuries.

Melaye and Bello have been at each others throat for some time. First Melaye had accused the governor of being behind an unsuccessful attack on his life by assassins.

After Bello was accused of double Permanent Voters’ Card registration, Melaye had championed the call for his resignation.

He has also accused the governor of the ongoing demands by the people of his (Melaye’s) constituency to recall him from the Senate.

 

 

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