By Promise Emmanuel

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has reiterated that perpetrators of recent attacks on communities in Oganenigu Ward of Dekina Local Government Area of the State will be apprehended and brought to justice.

He said efforts have since been activated to ensure the military, police, and other relevant security agencies were immediately mobilized to the affected areas to restore normalcy and fully contain the violence.

Governor Bello, represented by his Deputy, Chief Edward Onoja, disclosed this while addressing journalists after an on-the-spot assessment of the affected communities in Oganenigu, on Tuesday.

The Governor who described the extrajudicial killings as satanic, reassured of his administration’s commitment to hunting down profiteers of crime whilst ensuring the security of lives and properties.

He added that despite the pockets of crime, Kogi State under his watch as Governor remains unsafe for criminals desperate to plunge the State into the pre-2015 era of insecurity in whatever guise, warning that such attempts will be strongly resisted.

Whilst commiserating with the families of the deceased, he once again advised the people not to take laws into their hands as concerted efforts are ongoing to rehabilitate victims of the attacks.

Chief Onoja conducted the assessment of the scene of the crisis on behalf of Governor Bello in the company of the State Deputy Chief of Staff, Honourable Sunday Faleke; Commissioner for Information, Honourable Kingsley Fanwo; State Security Adviser, Navy Comr Jerry Omodara (retired), State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Yusuf, State Commandant, NSCDC, Ahmed Gandi; Brigade Commander, Brigadier General N.J Edet, and SEMA officials.

Consequently, an expanded meeting was held at the Ata Igala’s Palace in Idah with security heads, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN, Kogi and Nasarawa Chapters), Chairmen of Olamaboro, Igalamela, Idah, and Dekina Local Government Areas, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders.The Atta was represented by the Ejeh Ibaji, Chief John Egwemi.

Views exclusive rights: Promise Emmanuel, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, April 4, 2023.

Dekina Local Government Executive Chairman Appeals For Calm As Security Has Been Beefed Up To Restore Lasting Peace To The Area.

The Executive Chairman of Dekina local government area of Kogi State, Honourable Prince Ishaq Shaibu Okolo, has appealed to the good people of Oganenigu and its environs in Dekina Local Government Area of the state to remain calm and be steadfast as the government and security personnel have had a sleepless night moving round across the Dekina/Omala border and the Dekina/Bassa border to search for the perpetrators’ hidden point. “Be calm, we are on top of the situation”, he said in quote. He thereafter urged the community to report suspicious movements to the police.

The Executive Chairman made the call while visiting the community and making an on-the-spot assessment of the crisis between the host community and some suspected Fulani herdsmen that has claimed the lives of innocent souls and properties.

He further stated that no one is expected to take the laws into his own hands as the authority of the state is on top of the situation.
He appealed to the people of the area to always report suspicious movements to the relevant authorities and be assured that the perpetrators will be brought to justice in no time.

The Executive Chairman further stated that military personnel have been drafted to the area to calm down the situation and assure the residents of adequate security for their lives and properties.

It could be recalled that, between the last two weeks, the chairman has held a series of security meetings between the Fulani and their host community aimed at mitigating the conflict and ensuring lasting peace in the area.

He sympathized with the people of the area who lost their beloved ones, especially the All Progressives Congress (APC) Oganenigu Ward Chairman, who was murdered during the crisis, and prayed for Allah to grant them Al-janatul Fridaus.

Views exclusive rights: Alhaji Lampex, DG Media to the Executive Chairman, Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State, 4th April, 2023.