Senator Dino Melaye of the All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Kgi State West Senatorial District, who was attacked at his house in Ayetoro-Gbede in Kogi State, in the early hours of today, Saturday, has accused the Administrator of Ijumu Local Government, Taufiq Isa, of masterminding the attack.
This was even as Taufiq quickly denied the accusation, saying that he was attending to his sick wife who was on admission in hospital.
Melaye was in his country home at Ayetoro-Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area for the Easter holiday at the time of the attack
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the gunmen, numbering about ten, arrived Dino Melaye’s house at about midnight through the bush path, and opened fire from different directions on the house. The house was riddled with bullets while two of the vehicles parked in the estate were damaged by the hoodlums.
Melaye confirmed that the shooting by the hoodlums lasted for almost one hour and that apart from the building riddled with bullets, two of his vehicles were damaged.
“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.” Dino said.
“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. Nothing will stop me from coming home.”
Reacting to Melaye’s accusation, Taufiq Isa said that he had no hand in the attempt on the life of the Senator, saying that he had been busy for sometime taking care of his sick wife.
“I’ve never been a violent man. My running battle with Dino Melaye, if any, is because I have asked him to stop vilifying the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
“Let him (Dino) prove it. I lost my uncle a week ago; I’m still attending to my sick wife and busy supervising the APC re- registration programmes. I’m a democrat and law abiding. I challenge Dino to prove his case.”
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP William Aya said that the police received a distress call from the senator at about 1 a.m. and immediately responded.
He said the hoodlums escaped before the police arrived, thereby making arrest impossible, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu had set up an investigation committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to unravel those behind the attack. [myad]
