An All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly aspirant for Ankpa II Constituency, Sumaila Muhammed Attah Enjema, popularly known as Echoga, narrowly escaped what sources described as an assassination attempt in Lokoja.
The incident reportedly occurred at Halims Hotel during a meeting of party stakeholders aimed at selecting a consensus candidate for the forthcoming Assembly election.
According to eyewitness accounts, the aspirant was allegedly targeted at close range by a suspected gunman identified as “Achiever Bobby,” said to be an aide to a lawmaker.
Sources said the situation was averted at the last minute due to the intervention of a police officer stationed at the venue, who noticed suspicious movements and acted swiftly.
“It was the intervention of the police officer on duty that saved him. The suspect had already pointed a rifle before he was stopped,” a source disclosed.
The development triggered panic among attendees, with many fleeing the scene as security operatives moved in to restore order.
Three suspects were reportedly arrested in connection with the incident and taken into police custody for interrogation. Items recovered from one of the suspects’ vehicles reportedly included firearms and other weapons.
While the motive behind the alleged attack remains unclear, sources linked the incident to rising political tension within the All Progressives Congress over the selection of a consensus candidate in the constituency.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Kogi State Police Command or the party leadership.
The incident has heightened concerns over political violence and internal party conflicts as preparations for upcoming elections intensify.