On Saturday, Kogi state senator, Dino Melaye revealed that there had been an attempt on his life as gunmen raided his Ayetoro-Gbede house in the early hours of the day. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, there were about 10 gunmen who opened fire on the house from varying directions where the controversial senator was spending his Easter holidays.
The Kogi state Police Public Relations Office, William Aya revealed that the police answered to a distress call from Melaye at 1am after an attack that was said to have lasted about an hour but thankfully saw no lives lost. Melaye revealed his belief that the attack was in response to his criticism of the Kogi State Government. He said:
“I got a rousing welcome from Kabba to my home town on Friday and I know it angered the power that is in the state which mobilised for this assassination attempt on my life. At about midnight, we started hearing gunshots. They fired more than 200 rounds of bullet into the house. This attempt to kill me will not stop me from speaking the truth. If I speak the truth, I will die, if I lie, I will die. I’ve decided to speak the truth and die. I’m not afraid of death. I only respect men, I don’t fear them. I am championing an administrative course. I will continue to speak and be the voice to the voiceless. I’m not deterred; I remain resolute to make Kogi better. Noting will stop me from coming home.”
Melaye then went further to accuse the Police of conspiring against him alongside political opponents stating Divisional Police Officer arrived at his residence three hours after the incident. He claimed that:
“The DPO did not come to my house until three hours later. Even the area Commander in Kabba was not notified until I called the Commissioner of police. I suspect a satanic collaboration between Taufiq Isa and the police in Aiyetoro because the duo held a meeting two days ago. Only God will protect us in this country but definitely not the police”
Since then Taufiq Isa has replied distancing himself from the attack on Dino and claiming to have his own share of family problems at the moment.
On Monday, the Kogi State Police Force revealed that they had seven suspects in custody while a vehicle believed to have been used in the attack as well as ammunition was said to have been found at the residence of Taofiq Isa.
Below are some pictures Dino Melaye shared on his Instagram page following the attack.