Commissioner summons Melaye over alleged attempt to kill police sergeant
By Onogwu Muhammed
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ali Janga has ordered Senator Dino Melaye to report to his command to answer questions on his alleged involvement in the attempt to kill a police sergeant by gunshots.
The police said the affected personnel who was allegedly shot on the right part of his chest on Thursday by Melaye’s men “sustained life threatening injuries,” and he is now fighting for survival in an undisclosed hospital.
Senator Melaye who represents the Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly was said to have earlier complained on the same day that his convoyed was shot at by some unknown gunmen in police uniform while he was on his way to his country home in Aiyetoro-Gbede.
But the Commissioner, Mr Ali Janga, in a release signed on his behalf by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP William Ovye Aya, said Senator Melaye was misleading the general public with lies, noting that, “the Command wish to correct this wrong and misleading impression coming from the Senator by putting the records straight.”
The police in its narrative said the incident that almost led to the death of its personnel was due to the unruly behaviour of Senator Melaye and his men. The State police boss said the men Senator Melaye was parading were not members of the force.
“It is rather unfortunate that the Senator could after this dastardly act by his aides, be going around with armed men, unknown to the Command who could launch such a lethal attack on police officers in the course of their normal duty. It is more saddening that the Senator could turn around to issue misleading statements to cover up the heinous crime committed by his hired aides,” he said.
The Commissioner, according to the statement, while ordering Senator Melaye to report with his convoy members to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Lokoja to assist in the investigation, said a high powered panel has been instituted to look into the incident.
“Today (Thursday), at about 1530hours, a team of policemen from the Command was on a routine Anti – Robbery/Kidnapping patrol along Aiyetoro Gbede – Mopa Road. During the patrol, and as it is often the practice, the team pinned down at a point at Iyah Gbede Junction, where they were observing the highway and occasionally conducting Stop and Search. It was in this process a long convoy of vehicles coming from Mopa towards Aiyetoro Gbede approached the Point.
“Officers of the Command at the Point flagged down the convoy. While the lead vehicle, a Toyota Hilux van, which was later discovered to be conveying officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, stopped to introduce themselves, other vehicles in the convoy dangerously zoomed off without regards to the safety of the officers on ground.
Surprisingly, some plain clothed armed men, occupying a white Toyota Hilux van, without registration number, without provocation fired gunshots at the officers of the Anti-Robbery /Kidnapping Patrol Team. One of the officers, a Sergeant, was hit by bullet on the right part of his chest as a result of which he sustained grievous injury. The Officer is currently lying critically ill in the hospital where he has undergone a live threatening and currently recuperating.
“Expectedly, the policemen in self-defense responded by firing back to repel the unexpected attack. Vehicles in the convoy nevertheless, drove away from the scene. It was not until the officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps were questioned that it was realized that the convoy was that of Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye.”
About Post Author
