The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kogi killings

  • Miyetti-Allah denies involvement in Kogi killings

    •‘Anti open-grazing law is unfavourable’

    The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Socio-Cultural Organisation has denied involvement of Fulani herdsmen in the recent killings in Kogi State.

    Its National Secretary, Salleh Al-Hassan, who spoke during an interview at the Federal High Court in Abuja, said the Fulani were murdered by members of the Kogi State Vigilance groups for killings done by criminals.

    He blamed the unlawful killing of Fulani on unnecessary labelling of his members as being responsible for all insecurity cases in the country. But he said his members were not involved in the Kogi killings.

    Al-Hassan accused the media of unfair reportage of the issue, saying Benue killings were allegedly perpetrated by political thugs loyal to the governor.

    He said: “They tag every form of insecurity now to the herdsmen. But when you go and look at the police report, you won’t find it like that. Look at the recent incident in Kogi, criminals killed vigilance leaders and the following day, youth members of the group descended on Fulani and killed them. But nobody is reporting that side of the story.

    “Insecurity in Nigeria is largely the responsibility of government, but is has failed to provide security, particularly in the rural areas. And some governors have now resorted to outsourcing our security to vigilance groups, made up of criminals and political thugs…”

  • Kogi killings: Bello to set up judicial panel of inquiry

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Saturday said that government would set up a judicial panel of inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the March 14 herdsmen/farmers clash that claimed several lives in Ogane-Enigu.

    Bello disclosed this while addressing troops of 913 Battalion of the Nigeria Army stationed at Aloko-Ogane-Enigu, Dekina Local Government, to end the hostilities and restore peace to the affected communities.

    He said that the armed bandits were poised to sack the communities but were contained by security agencies that included the Army, Police and the DSS .

    “The primary responsibility of any government is to secure lives and property. We shall not play politics with the lives of our people.

    “We shall unravel everything that is behind these attacks. By the grace of God, this attack is going to be the first and the last in this place and the state.

    “As a government, we will, as much as possible, comfort the families affected and ensure that those injured received prompt medical attention,” he said.

    The governor had earlier undertaken an on-the-spot assessment visit to the troubled communities in Ogane-Enigu and Ojuwo-ajomaigbi in Dekina and Bassa Local Governments respectively.

    Mr Aaron Baba, a member of Ojuwo-Ajomaigbi community, whose father was killed in the attack, told the governor that 12 people were buried along with his father, adding that many others were still missing.

    “They took us by surprise. They came in military camouflage with AK-47, AK-45 and AK-49. You can see the empty bullet shells scattered all over. I am appealing to government for assistance.”

    He expressed shock at the attack “because we have been friendly with the herdsmen here and very often engaged in trade by batter with them until they started behaving “very strangely”.

    Mr Samaila Maji, another member of the community,  said that the attackers invaded the communities around 8 a.m.  on Wednesday and started shooting at the natives.

    “Our people tried to repel the attackers but where overwhelmed because they were more than 500. Our people had no option but to flee,” he said, adding that 25 people were killed while many others injured.

    Mr Reuben Okai, one of the victims, appealed to government to come to the aid of the people as many had lost everything.

    “They (attackers) made away with food stuff and all valuables; they also stole cash and 45 motorcycles belonging to our youths,” he said. (NAN)

  • Senators urge FG to tackle insecurity

    Senators on Thursday told the Federal Government to take immediate steps to tackle increasing insecurity in parts of the country.

    The lawmakers specifically warned that the country would become a failed state if speedy measures are not taken to address the wanton destruction of lives and property in parts of the country.

    The senators’ remarks followed a motion of national urgent importance raised by Senator Atai Ali Aidoko (Kogi East) on the killing of 32 people in Omale and Dekina local government areas of Kogi State.

    Aidoko told his colleagues that the victims were slaughtered on Wednesday in most gruesome manner.

    The Kogi East lawmaker said 20 people were killed in Ogane-Enugu community in Dekina, while 12 others were killed in Agbejukolo and Agbenema communities in Omala LGA.

    He said: “Despite continued condemnation of killings in many parts of the country, perpetrators of this dastardly act have not been arrested. I want this Senate to urge President Muhammadu Buhari to direct security agencies to bring the situation under control by arresting the perpetrators and ensure that they are prosecuted. These killings are taking another dimension as the killers also amputate peoples’ hands and leave them to go. That is purely genocide which has crept into the killings.”

    Senate Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa) in his contribution noted that there was no doubt the country was gradually becoming a failed state.

    Paulker added that there was equally no doubt that the government has lost count of the number of Nigerians killed every day by armed herdsmen.

    He warned that if urgent measures are not taken to address the grave situation, the country would run into serious crisis.

    Paulker said that policing of communities should be taken serious in the interest of Nigerians.

    Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, who also contributed to the topic, noted that the Senate should work closely with the executive to salvage the situation.

    Lawan, who just returned from Zamfara State where he toured crisis -hit areas, said the effectiveness of security agencies in combating crime in the country should be improved.

    Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe in his contribution blamed President Buhari for alleged inaction.

    The Abia South lawmaker said it was obvious that the President is not in charge of the security situation in the country.

    Abaribe also frowned at the President’s “frequent bulk passing and trading in blame game.”

    He said President Buhari does not take responsibility whenever anything goes wrong in the country.

    Abaribe noted that as Commander-In-Chief, President Buhari should coordinate the fight against activities of herdsmen.

    He said: “The President is always passing blames. He blames every other person, but himself. He tells us every time that he does not know what is happening in the country. How can a President utter such words?

    “If the President does not know what is happening in a country like Nigeria, how can we be safe? We should call the President to order and tell him to do the job he was elected to do. He should stop claiming that he does not know what is happening and do the needful.”

    It was obvious that Abaribe’s remarks did not go down well with some of his colleagues, especially members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Abaribe was interjected twice during his contribution on the matter.

  • Kogi killings: We’re on the trail of killers of unionist, two others–Bello

    Kogi killings: We’re on the trail of killers of unionist, two others–Bello

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, on Friday, ordered security operatives to fish out the killers of Branch chairman of the Non Academic Staff  Union of Secondary School, Science and Technology Education Board (STEB),  Mallam Abdulmumin Yaqub and his friend, Mallam Ibrahim Otaru.

    The duo were murdered in Okene Wednesday night.

    The governor in a statement yesterday said that from the information available, the murder was premeditated.

    He expressed sadness over the killing of the three persons, including one Abdulganiyu Aduki, an artisan who was killed around on Tuesday, at Nagazi in Adavi Local Government Area, also in the Central Senatorial district.

    Aduki’s wife and daughter were also shot during the incidence and are currently hospitalised due to their injuries.

    Yakub’s murdered drew the ire of the orgarnized labour in the state, leading to the call off of the on-going talks on salary issues with the government.

    “Law enforcement is already on their trail and I have put the full support of my administration at their disposal. I  promise Kogites that we will leave no stone unturned till we find and decisively put these cowardly criminals out of business in the manners prescribed by law,” vowed Bello vowed.

    The statement read: “Our hearts go out to the family of Abdulganiyu Aduki, an artisan who was killed around 7:30pm on Tuesday, 31st October, 2017 at Nagazi in Adavi Local Government Area. His wife and daughter were also shot during the incidence and are currently hospitalised due to their injuries. We condole with them for their dead and join them to pray for the full and quick recovery of the injured.

    “We also commiserate with those left behind by Mallam Abdulmumin Yaqub and his friend, Mallam Ibrahim Otaru, who were gunned down at the home of the former in Ozuwaya, Bariki Ward of Okene Local Government Area around 7pm on Wednesday, 1st November, 2017.

    “From the information available to us, the brazen manner in which these cruel killings were carried out indicate they are premeditated assassinations executed for the express purpose of taking the lives of the deceased persons. There was also a clear intention to kill any hapless person who happens to be present at the time of the attack.

    “As soon as I was briefed on this dastardly incident, I directed the Police and other security agencies to track down the killers. Law enforcement is already on their trail and I have put the full support of my administration at their disposal. I  promise  Kogites that we will leave no stone unturned till we find and decisively put these cowardly criminals out of business in the manners prescribed by law.

    “Our people must be safe in every part of Kogi State, especially in their homes. This has remained our preoccupation in government. Kogites will bear us witness that in the nearly two years we have been in office we have taken Kogi State from being one of the leading theatres of kidnapping, armed robbery, thuggery and violent crimes in the nation to her current status as one of the safest states to live and do business in Nigeria.

    “My administration therefore considers these attacks as enemy action directed at unsettling the peace and security which we have returned to our people at great cost and nearly superhuman efforts. We are already fighting back strongly for our people. Kogites can rest assured that no one will be allowed to take us back to the past.

    “Over and beyond the general tight security measures we have always maintained all over Kogi State, we also paid closer attention to the Kogi Central Senatorial District in the provision of security infrastructure.

    “This is because of known security challenges plaguing the the zone for many years now. The presence of Boko Haram returnees and other hardline elements is a particularly worrisome phenomenon.

    “My administration also established a Nigerian Army Forward Operations Base at Achoze in Okene Local Government Area some months ago which is doing a great job in helping to police the area more efficiently and effectively.

    “Mallam Abdulmumin Yaqub was a well known community leader, an Islamic cleric, a school teacher, and a labour leader.

    “In fact, he was one of the leaders who worked closely with government and the security agencies to stem the tide of insecurity in Kogi Central, particularly the Okene axis.

    “Those who know him well inform us that he lived an honourable life. No one must be allowed to dishonour him, even in death.