At least five persons were “shot dead” on Monday morning at the gate of Kogi State Polytechnic, where Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the senate, was holding a protest against the state government.

Witnesses say the protest, which started around 11am, turned bloody when some unknown gunmen invaded the venue of protest.

The gunmen were said to have stormed the venue of the protest, brandishing guns of different types and cutlasses.

“They fired shots into different directions and people, including journalists who were at hands to cover the protest, scampered for safety,” said a witness who did not want to be named.

Another witness said it took the army and the state commissioner of police almost an hour into the shooting before they could arrive, even as five persons received gun shots with a vehicle caught in flame as well.

Melaye and Yahaya Bello, Governor of Kogi State, have been embroiled in political tussle, the latter accusing the former of poor performance in office.