From Ralph Omololu Agbana (Lokoja) and Alex Olise (Lagos)

Dignitaries, including the State Governor, Ibrahim Idris and his deputy, Philip Salawu, were barely seated when pandemonium broke out.

In three groups, some young men in uniform arrived at the Lokoja Stadium, well-armed, just when the governor, holding a 24-page speech mounted the rostrum to address the state on the occasion of his second year in office. He was also to be treated to a march past by pupils.

Suddenly, sounds of gunshots were heard from the outside of the mainbowl and everyone, including school children, scampered for safety, bringing the colourful ceremony to an abrupt end.

A microphone announcement by the Master of Ceremony urging everybody to be calm and that all was well was roundly ignored.

At this point, security details were put on alert to bring the situation under control. But this only aggravated the already tense atmosphere as sporadic gunshots rent the air, leaving the environment in a thick cloud of smoke, as mobile policemen engaged the trouble-makers.

Governor Idris, who initially remained calm on the rostrum yielded to pressure from his security team and left the stadium. More than an hour after the governor's exit, the pandemonium continued with thousands of people trapped inside the mainbowl of the stadium.

At the last count, one person was feared killed and several others, including a council chairman, lay injured in various hospitals in the capital city.

Also, several vehicles parked outside the stadium were smashed, while nearly all government offices and nearby shops were vandalised. Virtually all the vehicles identified as belonging to government officials and suspected political leaders were badly damaged.

Among those whose vehicles were smashed were the House of Assembly member representing Yagba East Constituency, Henry Ojuola and chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Yagba West Local Council, Victor Rotimi Dada.

Addressing the press later, Dada described disruption of the rally as "misdirection of anger and a debasement of the principles of democracy."

He added: "A situation where the governor of a state is not safe in his domain calls to question the security arrangement in the country."

The Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, Chief Kehinde Asalu who was also present at the ceremony said: "My comment is that this is a lawless state."

Briefing newsmen at the Government House press centre, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. James Adedoyin, disclosed that the Security Information confirmed that the disturbance was perpetrated by some armed group of youths who came from the Okene area of the state.

He added: "When policemen accosted the group to stop them from entering the stadium, they fired gun-shots at the police and this led to the exchange of fire. The disturbance necessitated immediate termination of the rally to enable security operatives concentrate their efforts on arresting all those suspected to have perpetrated the disturbance."

The governor, according to Adedoyin, has ordered a thorough investigation to ascertain the real motives of the youths.

He said: "Investigations have revealed that this is the third time this group of unruly youths from Okene would be disturbing the peace of the people of Kogi State."

According to him, the militants have a history of such unprovoked attacks. He said: "The first time was on November 1, last year, during a PDP rally. Again, on Saturday 21st of this month, the same group caused disturbances in Okene shooting guns indiscriminately when we had eminent guests in town, including the wife of the Vice President of the nation."

He continued: "The governor sympathises with those who have come from far and near to rejoice with the state government on the second anniversary but whose joyful celebration was polluted by the disturbance. Government will ensure that such ugly incidents are not allowed in the future."

The state commissioner of police, Mr. Bamidele Thomas told The Guardian last high that no person died in the mayhem.

Also, the Force Public Relations Office Mr. Emmanuel Ighodalo confirmed the incident, saying "there was misunderstanding between two factions of the 2007 Project in the PDP during the rally, it resulted to clash but no life was lost."

According to him, the quick intervention of Police in the state brought peace within and outside the stadium.