The Kogi Government has debunked the allegation of an attack by herdsmen at Big Joe motor park in Lokoja on Tuesday.
A statement by the Director General of Media and Publicity to Kogi Governor, Kingsley Fanwo, described the news as โrumor peddlers who are on a mission to create panic and tension in the Stateโ.
There were reports with pictures in social media that there was an attack by some herdsmen at the park.
โOur attention has been drawn to some gory pictures on social media platforms, purporting that some herdsmen attacked a popular motor park in Lokoja and killed all passengers found there.
โWe wish to allay the fears of commuters and residents of the State that nothing like that ever happened as all motor parks in the state are safe and peaceful.
โOur security operatives are also ensuring security of lives and property in the state,โ he said.
Meanwhile, a visit by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to the Big Joe motor park at Felele in Lokoja, showed that normal activities were going on at the park.
A food hawker at the park, who identified herself as Esther Nathaniel, said she was hearing the rumour for the first time from the NAN reporter.
โIt is not true, nothing like that happened in this park. I sell drinks and water here always, and nothing like that ever happened here,โ she said.
A member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Abdul Sule, also told NAN that nothing of such occurred there.
โYou can see for yourself; if something like that happened here, you will never see anybody here at the moment. It is a big lie,โ Sule told NAN.
