Sen. Melaye mocks Police arrest, parade of robbers

Senator Dino Melaye has described the allegation that he was arming armed gangs and hooligans in Kogi as fabricated lies by the state government and the Nigeria Police.

The senator, noting that the ‘venom of a viper does nothing to the back of a tortoise’, added that no amount of lies and blackmail against him will deter him from speaking truth and defending it.

The Police in Kogi State had on Monday paraded two men they said were members of an armed gang perpetrating violence in Kogi State, adding that the suspects confessed that they receive weapons and financial support from Melaye.

But reacting on his Twitter handle, Melaye wrote, “No amount of lies and blackmail will detract my attention from speaking the truth and defending it.

‏”Fabricated lies by Kogi State Govt and the police will fail. It’s utterly laughable and preposterous. It’s a sign of desperation.

“The venom of a viper does nothing to the back of a tortoise

“Senator Dino Melaye is representing Kogi West! How can he now fund thugs from Kogi East? This lies looks so cheap! Why will force PPRO go all the way to Lokoja to parade suspects? This strategy is weak and dead on arrival.”

The development is coming only weeks after Melaye, who had been in a long-drawn feud with Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, raised the alarm over alleged importation of military hardware by Bello as part of a plan to empower a militia against political opponents in the state.

READ ALSO: Twist in Kogi militia-arming allegations as police parade gang ‘working’ for Melaye

Meanwhile, Melaye had also claimed in an earlier tweet on his handle that he was the one the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is targeting with the withdrawal of police from VIPs.

“I am the target. IG wants to expose me so I can be killed. Having survived assassination attempt twice I deserve police protection in a country where I’m a tax payer,” he said.

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now