Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Governor of Kogi State. (Credit : Facebook)
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – The Igala tribe in Kogi State has raised concern over the deteriorating security situation in the State especially in Kogi East Senatorial zone where there are violent attacks, kidnappings and killings.
The tribe’s apex sociocultural organisation, Ukomu Igala Organisation, UIO which raised the concern said the outcry has become necessary as people in rural communities in the zone have been dying in silence due to rising spate of insecurity.
In a statement issued in Jos, Plateau State on Wednesday and signed by its National Leader, David Abutu and its National Secretary, Sabastine Abu, the situation in the last two years shows “complete absence of security or outright ineffectiveness of the available security system in the zone.”
The statement reads in part, “The attention of Ukomu Igala Organisation (UIO), has been drawn to the unsavoury security situations in Igala land, leading to fear, apprehension, and rampant bloodshed in the nine local government areas.
READ : CP Soyemi meets with traditional rulers, Fulani leaders in Nasarawa
“In April this year, a traditional ruler Onu Iyankpe, a suburb of Bagana in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State was kidnapped from his palace. His abductors killed him in cold blood after collecting ransom from family and friends of the monarch.
“On July 18, 2021, a medical doctor, Solomon Nidiamaka, working with General Hospital Ugwolawo, in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi state was kidnapped by gunmen in similar circumstances. Equally, on September 6, 2021, Mrs Fatimetu Ishaku, the General Manager of Radio Kogi at Ochaja was kidnapped while on transit to her village.
“On September 11, 2021, one Idris Bala was killed by a Fulani herdsman at Ojapata Oganigu village in Dekina local government of Kogi state. The same village has been raided three times within the last one year by gunmen suspected to be armed bandits.”
It added, “There are countable numbers of kidnapping in Ejule, Iyale, and Ochadamu-Umori axis in Ofu Local Government Area. Itobe-Ojodu-Anyigba road as well as Idah-Ajegwu road has become a den of kidnappers with communities along those roads as well travelers face danger daily.
“Igah-Ikeje communities, especially at Adumu village, in Igah District of Olamaboro Local Government Area are having sleepless nights over incessant activities of armed Fulani herders. Another fresh dimension in the criminal activities in the zone is the attacks on operators of POS and ATM machines especially in Abejukolo, headquarters of Omala local government.
READ ALSO : NGO frowns at Akwa Ibom’s N136bn supplementary budget, wants details posted online
“In July this year alone, four POS operators were robbed in a violent manner. All these criminal acts have been so consistent within the last two years in a manner that shows complete absence of security or outright ineffectiveness of the available security system in the zone.”
The people lamented, “These criminals operate with impunity, as they are usually more armed than local vigilantes. One of the most recent cases of insecurity in the zone was the killing of four persons at Otutubatu (Bagana) in Omala LGA.
“More worrisome in the prevailing security situations in the zone is that farmers could no longer go to farm due to fear of armed Fulani herders who are parading the farmlands with A K 47 and are ready to kill if you dare them.”
They further lamented the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the hands of youths in the state and called on federal and state government, working with security agencies, local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and security experts, to put in place an effective security arrangement to respond to the peculiar challenges facing Igala land and Kogi State at large.
