We invaded Melaye’s country home to arrest him ― Police

THE Kogi state command of the Nigerian Police on Saturday said it invaded the country home of the senator representing Kogi west senatorial district, Dino Melaye, to arrest him in connection with the killing of one of its officers.

The command also said the state commissioner of police, Ali Janga, gave the directive for the action and not the Aide-De-Camp of the state governor as alleged by the lawmaker.

Melaye had on Friday on his twitter handle alleged that men of the police invaded his country home at Ayetoro-Gbede, Ijumu local government area of the state to assassinate him.

He said the men came at about 1 am on Friday with the aim of killing him.

But the Kogi state police command in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Aya, described the allegation as false, saying the ADC has nothing to do with the police exercise.

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The statement read, “The Command wish to state unequivocally that, the statement is nor only the figment of the imagination of Senator Dino Melaye who has mastered the art of political gimmickry, but totally false, malicious and highly mischievous. The Commissioner of Police sent Police Officers to his country home for arrest, unfortunately, we did not get him at home.

“The command wish to state categorically clear that, Senator Melaye who mobilized some thugs and attacked Police personnel on routine duty on 19/7/2018 along Ayetoro Gbede – Mopa road at about 2530hrs, shot and injured Force No. 432913 Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, who is currently receiving treatment at Veda Crest Hospital, Abuja.

“The Senator was invited officially by the Command through letter No. AR:3000/KGS/X/VOL.43/670 dated 23/7/2018 to come and answer the charges on him but up to the time of releasing this press statement, he refused to show up or give reasons of not honouring our invitation.

“The Senator is wanted by the Kogi state police command for criminal conspiracy, attempted culpable homicide and unlawful possession of firearms”.

The statement said the commissioner of police appealed to Melaye to report himself at the command to answer the allegation leveled against him and stop joining issues with people who had nothing to do with the case at hand.

But Melaye in his reaction through his special assistant on media, Gideon Ayodele, said the police was only being economical with the truth over the invasion of his residence.

He queried the rationale behind the action of the policemen in the middle of the night if truly they had come to arrest him as claimed

Ayodele said, “I think I will commend the police, especially the Kogi state command for even accepting that they invaded the residence of Senator Dino Melaye.
Funnily enough, the invasion was carried out around 1:30 am which gives more meaning to the invasion rather than a lawful arrest of an armless citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It will equally interest Nigerians if the Kogi state command can produce the details of the said injured officer, his duty post and duty description. It is equally good to note that the police have withdrawn the police details attached to Senator Dino Melaye and the only armed men on the said trip were the men of the NSCDC.

“The police was surprised and shocked by the information that we have about their activities. They are equally aware that international community has been duly informed. That same Friday, Senator Dino passed through the main Lokoja township road leading to government house twice and the police did not attempt arresting him. The question is”Why in the night?

“As far as Senator Dino Melaye is concerned, he will continue to do only those things that will promote unity and development of the state”.