From Emmanuel Adeyemi Lokoja
In less than five days to the general election,a bomb explosion erupted on Monday night at Okehi local government secretariat Obangede.
The local government area, just as others in the central senatorial district, is noted as a very volatile area, especially during election periods and during masquerade festivals.
Monday’s explosion occurred near the INEC office, which created fears that the office may be the target of the assailants, who were said to have dropped the device while on a moving motorcycle. Although there was no casualty, the explosion was said to have affected the treasury department of the local government and some adjoining offices, which were said to have been shattered.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Government, through the State Security Adviser, Duro Jerry Omodara, confirmed the development in Lokoja, yesterday, and said the intention of the saboteurs may be to cause panic during the election, to prevent people from coming out to vote. Omodara said no life was lost, but security men were immediately drafted to the area to restore normalcy.
About two months ago, a similar occurrence happened in the same senatorial district, when some explosives were detonated at the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebira land during the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari for the commissioning of some legacy projects in the state.