Two NYSC members, four others missing as gunmen attack INEC officials in Kogi

Salisu Ibrahim, one of the bus drivers, who was shot in his right leg, and recuperating at the hospital, said the attackers took them by surprise.

News Agency of Nigeria • March 19, 2023

Gunmen and ballot box

At least six persons were allegedly feared missing when gunmen attacked six Hummer buses carrying INEC officials in Kogi in the early hours of Sunday.

The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. on Sunday at Abajana, leaving several officials with gunshot wounds, including police officers and drivers.

The six missing persons include two serving corps members and four ex-members.

The injured persons are already on admission at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), now Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lokoja.

Salisu Ibrahim, one of the bus drivers, who was shot in his right leg, and recuperating at the hospital, said the attackers took them by surprise.

“We were on our way back to Lokoja from Abujor RAC with the results of the House of Assembly election held there when we were attacked by some people.

“All the six buses moving in a convoy were attacked, and in the process, many of us sustained injuries.

“Thank God, none of us died in the process, but I learnt some corpers were missing during the attack on us this early morning,” Mr Ibrahim narrated.

Dare Owofadaju, a youth corps member who was shot in his left thigh, said: “It is only God that kept us alive considering the way and manner the gunmen attacked us.”

Mr Owofadaju said the election was conducted peacefully and counting was completed, and “it was when we were returning to Lokoja that we were attacked at Abajana”.

He added, “Thank God some security operatives came to our rescue and rushed those injured to this Federal University Teaching Hospital Lokoja for immediate treatment.”

It was also gathered that the commander, Headquarters Command Army Records (CAR), Sunday Igbinomwanhia, Kogi INEC REC, Hale Longpet, and the Kogi NYSC coordinator, Mofoluwaso Williams, have visited the injured in the hospital.

The REC and the state NYSC coordinator declined to respond to enquiries on the incident.

But the spokesman of Kogi Police Command, Williams Ovye-Aya, confirmed the incident, saying that the police were on top of the situation.

“We are aware of the sad incident and preparing to issue a statement on the attack,” he said.

(NAN)

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