Senator Isa Echocho (Kogi, APC) was on Tuesday attacked when he and other federal lawmakers from the state paid a courtesy call on Governor Yahaya Bello at the Lugard House in Lokoja, the state capital.
The governor’s spokesperson Onogwu Mohammed revealed this on Wednesday in Lakoja, saying the lawmakers came to congratulate his principal and the suspected thus attacked them when they set to leave the government house.
The Senator said he was singled out and attacked.
Echocho said himself, Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) and other All Progressives Congress federal lawmakers from the state had gone to pay homage to the governor after the festive season.
“I was attacked by thugs in Government House Lokoja but the police rescued me.
“What happened was that all APC senators and the House of Representatives members from the state visited the governor on a courtesy call for the New Year.
“Being one of them, I was not left out. We went up and we had some brief meeting with the governor, though he expressed dissatisfaction over the APC performance in Kogi East (my senatorial district) in the last governorship election.
“I told the governor that I tried all I could to convince my people to vote for the APC. I campaigned vigorously for the APC in Kogi East but the people were resolute in voting for another candidate despite my efforts.
“It is not as if APC performed woefully in the election in Kogi East. There were pockets of LGs and wards that we won. There was no other thing I could have done beyond what I did. We exchanged pleasantries with the governor, took a group photograph and left.
“As we were coming out, in front of the Governor’s Office, the thugs pounced on me that I was responsible for APC’s failure in Kogi East.
“To my surprise, they brought out knives and other weapons to attack me but police officers around were able to rescue me inside my vehicle and we zoomed off. I thank God I didn’t suffer any injury. The police were able to provide sufficient security.”
“The governor cannot descend so low and send thugs to attack me.
“The governor spoke with me after the attack, and he assured me that the thugs would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law, but I told him not to worry since I’m safe.”
Meanwhile, the governor has subsequently banned unauthorised persons from accessing the Government House, Mohammed said, adding that six persons were arrested in respect of the attack.
He said the governor has ordered immediate prosecution of the culprits.
Thugs attack Senator Echocho in Lugard House, Lokoja
Senator Isa Echocho (Kogi, APC was on Tuesday attacked when he and other federal lawmakers from the state paid a courtesy call on Governor Yahaya Bello at the Lugard House in Lokoja, the state capital.
The governor’s spokesperson Onogwu Mohammed revealed this on Monday in Lakoja, saying the lawmakers came to congratulate his principal and the suspected thus attacked them when they set to leave the government house.
The Senator said he was singled out and attacked.
Echocho said himself, Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) and other All Progressives Congress federal lawmakers from the state had gone to pay homage to the governor after the festive season.
“I was attacked by thugs in Government House Lokoja but the police rescued me.
“What happened was that all APC senators and the House of Representatives members from the state visited the governor on a courtesy call for the New Year.
“Being one of them, I was not left out. We went up and we had some brief meeting with the governor, though he expressed dissatisfaction over the APC performance in Kogi East (my senatorial district) in the last governorship election.
“I told the governor that I tried all I could to convince my people to vote for the APC. I campaigned vigorously for the APC in Kogi East but the people were resolute in voting for another candidate despite my efforts.
“It is not as if APC performed woefully in the election in Kogi East. There were pockets of LGs and wards that we won. There was no other thing I could have done beyond what I did. We exchanged pleasantries with the governor, took a group photograph and left.
“As we were coming out, in front of the Governor’s Office, the thugs pounced on me that I was responsible for APC’s failure in Kogi East.
“To my surprise, they brought out knives and other weapons to attack me but police officers around were able to rescue me inside my vehicle and we zoomed off. I thank God I didn’t suffer any injury. The police were able to provide sufficient security.”
“The governor cannot descend so low and send thugs to attack me.
“The governor spoke with me after the attack, and he assured me that the thugs would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law, but I told him not to worry since I’m safe.”
Meanwhile, the governor has subsequently banned unauthorised persons from accessing the Government House, Mohammed said, adding that six persons were arrested in respect of the attack.
He said the governor has ordered immediate prosecution of the culprits.