Senator Dino Melaye on Saturday escaped death from unknown gunmen who shot at his house.
The gunmen invaded his house in the early hours of Saturday at Ayetoro-Gbede in Kogi State.
It was gathered that the gunmen numbering about 10 arrived the house at about midnight through the bush and opened fire on the house from different directions.
The house was riddled with bullets while two of the vehicles parked in the estate were damaged by the hoodlums.
Melaye (APC-Kogi West), was in his country home at Ayetoro-Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area for the Easter holiday at the time of the attack
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP William Aya, told NAN 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.
Aya said the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, had set up an investigative committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to unravel those behind the attack.
On his part, Melaye said the hoodlums arrived at about midnight and started shooting sporadically at the main building in the compound.
He said the shooting lasted for almost one hour, adding that apart from the building riddled with bullets, two of his vehicles were damaged.
The senator said he suspected Mr. Taufiq Isa, the Administrator of Ijumu Local Government, as being behind the attack.
Mr. Isa has denied the accusation.
Dino said the attack was most likely due to his incessant verbal attacks on certain elements in the state.
“I got a rousing welcome from Kabba to my hometown on Friday and I know it angered the power that is in the state, which mobilised for this assassination attempt on my life.
“At about midnight, we started hearing gunshots. They fired more than 200 rounds of bullets into the house. This attempt to kill me will not stop me from speaking the truth.
“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 cause. I will continue to speak and be the voice to the voiceless. I’m not deterred; I remain resolute to make Kogi better. Noting will stop me from coming home.”
