The Nigeria Police Force has alleged that four suspects confessed that they were sent by the Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Taofiq Isah to assassinate Senator Dino Melaye.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police Jimoh Moshood, who paraded the suspects along with the local government chairman and his Police orderly, Ede James, alleged that the council chairman directed one Abdulmumini, a.k.a Iron, now at large, who was said to be his personal assistant, to execute the assassination plot.
The Force spokesman said that the council chairman also recruited other members of the vicious and notorious hired assassins gang, adding that investigations have so far indicated that the council chairman actually masterminded the attempted assassination of Melaye.
The other suspects were identified as Ade Obage, 29; Abdullahi a.k.a Eko; as well as Ahmed Ajayi, 45, and Michael Bamidele, 26 – both security men at Isah’s residence.
The Police spokesman said that different types of arms and ammunition used for the attack have been recovered from the suspects. They include five AK-47 rifles, one Berretta pistol, two locally made single-barrel shotguns, 25 expended shells of 7.62mm ammunition, 13 expended shells of 9mm ammunition, 12 expended shells of gauge cartridge and one ambulance (Hyundai bus).
The suspects who were arrested by a team from the Police Special Tactical Squad, deployed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, after the attack, on April 15 attacked the Senator’s residence in Kogi State with the intention of killing him. [myad]
