Six armed thugs have been arrested for the harassment of Senator Jubrin Echocho, after they broke into the Kogi State Government House on Tuesday during the lawmaker’s courtesy visit to Governor Yahaya Bello in his Lugard House office in Lokoja, the state capital.
The arrest of the suspected thugs was made known on Wednesday in a statement issued by Governor Bello’s Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Mohammed.
Mohammed stated that Governor Bello had subsequently banned unauthorised persons from accessing the Government House while calling for the immediate prosecution of the arrested suspects.
According to the Chief Press Secretary, the federal lawmakers from Kogi State in the Senate and House of Representatives, had visited Governor Bello to congratulate him on the “peaceful and credible” conduct of the November 11 governorship election in the state and to pledge their loyalty to him and the incoming administration.
Mohammed said that “Shortly after the fruitful discussion, the governor received with rude shock the news of the harassment of some of the lawmakers on their way out of the Government House and swiftly ordered the arrest of the culprits.”
According to him, the governor charged security agencies to investigate the issue thoroughly and ensure that the offenders face the full wrath of the law.
“Information just got to me as I left the office to the residence that one man called Suleiman and others embarrassed Senator Jubrin Echocho in the Government House.
“I’ve directed CSO to arrest all those involved in such a stupid act and bring them to justice immediately. I will never condone acts of hooliganism and indiscipline,” Mohammed quoted Governor Bello as saying.
Senator Jubrin Echocho, representing Kogi East Senatorial District who narrated how thugs attacked him inside the Government House in Lokoja.
He told Daily Trust in a telephone interview that the incident happened on Tuesday immediately after a meeting with Governor Bello.
Senator Echocho reportedly said himself, Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) and other All Progressives Congress (APC) federal lawmakers from the state had gone to pay homage to the governor after the festive season.
The lawmaker said that the thugs singled him out from other legislators and pounced on him, accusing him of being responsible for APC’s poor performance in the last governorship election in Kogi East senatorial district.
“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,” he noted.
Credit: Sahara Reporters
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