Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, was on Friday stoned by aggrieved residents as soon as he came out from a mosque where he observed Jumat prayer in Lokoja the state capital.
The incident took place at the Lokoja Central Mosque in the old market area of the state capital, though the reason for the attack on the governor is yet to be made known.
However, report said that a group of irate residence carrying placards and chanting anti-government slogans, had on sighting the governor as he came out of the mosque, began to stone him with rotten fruits and vegetables.
It took the timely intervention of the police, who threw up teargas, to disperse the angry residents from pelting the governor.
However, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kingsley Fanwo said Governor Bello was not stoned at the Mosque.
He he stated in a press release, that “some sponsored miscreants caused a mild drama as they were caught with stones while one of them attacked one of the security aides attached to the Government House shortly after the Governor departed the area.
“The gallant market women at the Lokoja Old Market accosted the perpetrators and stopped them from absconding from the scene in solidarity with the Governor.”
According to him, “Governor Yahaya Bello has also urged his supporters to remain calm and not take the law into their hands as he remained committed to the cardinal ideals of his administration.
“Imported and sponsored miscreants, who have infiltrated the state from neighbouring states should know that Kogi is prepared to protect her citizens from desperate politicians who think they can turn the state to a war zone.”