Recently, the claim that the murder of an army officer caused unrest along the Abuja-Lokoja has been circulating for days on various social media platforms.
This claim has been widely shared on platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter). Kogi State, alongside Bayelsa and Imo, is currently preparing for its upcoming governorship election. Consequently, there has been a surge in the spread of disinformation surrounding the election. This specific claim is part of a series of news stories that have stirred interest in Kogi State recently.
On October 20, 2023, it was reported that an assassination attempt was made on the governor’s life. It was stated that his vehicle, along with other vehicles in his convoy, was targeted and fired upon during his journey from Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, to Abuja. The commissioner of information in the state supported this claim through a press statement, stating that the assailants who ambushed the governor were wearing military uniforms, and the convoy came under attack at three different points along the route to Abuja.
However, a few hours later, Yahaya Bello refuted the claim of an assassination attempt, describing it as a “fracas with the sister agency,” which was promptly resolved.
Claim: Yahaya Bello’s security detail killed an army officer, leading to a blockade on the Abuja-Lokoja Road by protesting military officers.
Verification:
CDD fact-checkers conducted an investigation into the validity of this claim and found no credible reports from either mainstream or traditional media sources regarding the alleged murder of an army officer. The available reports primarily focused on the supposed assassination attempt and the altercation between the governor’s security personnel and the military.
To delve deeper into the matter, we reached out to a retired senior military officer, who informed us that there was no report of an army officer’s murder or any protests related to the deaths of military personnel. However, he did mention that retired military officers were planning a protest to demand gratuity and accrued allowances. There has also been no specific comment on the killing of an army officer by the Kogi State and FCT Police Commands.
Verdict: ALL WE KNOW
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