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Tag: Kogi State

  • Kogi to inaugurate World class diagnostic centre

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Wednesday said the state’s World class Diagnostic Centre would soon be inaugurated to serve Nigerians.
    A statement by the governor’s Director-General, Media and Publicity, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, issued in Lokoja assured that the centre would be one of the best in the country.
    “The state government is working hard to complete and commission the project that has gulped hundreds of millions of naira since our assumption of office in 2016.
    “Medical diagnosis is a critical aspect of health management as it serves the double purposes of preventing ill health as well as managing health conditions.
    “As a responsible governor, I feel sad when citizens die not because we don’t have the medical facilities to manage their ill health; but because the culture of early diagnosis was poor,” Bello said.
    The governor assured people of the state that his administration was committed to strengthen the healthcare sector to ensure their healthy living.
    Bello commiserated with the family of one of the state’s directors in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mr Haruna David, who suddenly slumped and died in his office at about 3 p.m on Tuesday.

    Read Also: Kogi civil servant slumps, dies

    He described the late director as very hardworking and dedicated to his duties, saying “our hearts are with his family and the entire Kogi state civil servants’’.
    “To this end, I have directed the Commissioner for Health to quickly put together a healthcare programme that will enable us know the health conditions of our dear civil servants in the state,” the governor said.
    He assured the people that the Healthcare Plus Initiative would continue to make healthcare accessible and affordable to the poor, adding that expectant mothers now enjoy free child delivery.
    “As part of my electioneering promises, we have done a lot in improving our health training institutions and upgrade the standards of our health facilities, reduce maternal mortality and accomplishing other laudable projects,” Bello said.

    NAN

  • Senators, Reps give Buhari conditions to avoid impeachment

    …cracks within NASS as North members vow to resist impeachment moves

    The fragile cordial relationship  between the Presidency and the National Assembly appears to have broken down irreparably on Tuesday, as a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives gave President Muhammadu Buhari a 12 – point resolution he must complied with to avoid being impeached.

    The two chambers of the National Assembly were resolute that President Buhari must stop interfering in its affairs or face impeachment procedure.

    The resolutions were adopted at what the lawmakers described as an emergency executive session on the state of the nation.

    An impeachment  move was made during a stormy joint session of the two chambers where an impeachment register was circulated but whose sponsorship  no lawmaker was ready to own up to, it was gathered.

    The Federal lawmakers at the volatile joint executive session held at the House of Representatives chamber said the President must be sincere in his fight against corruption and stop harassing his perceived enemies.

    The session was however described as ‘hot and contradictory’ by a member, who said he was uncomfortable with the threat of impeachment, adding that such threat will remain a threat.

    The move for the impeachment was sponsored by a vocal PDP member from Kogi state, it was gathered by the Nation.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who was flanked by Speaker Yakubu Dogara reeled out a 12 point resolution which he said must be complied with by the President or risk being faced with the invocation of the powers of the National Assembly.

    No timeline was given for the compliance with the resolution.

    The resolutions include: “The Security Agencies must be given marching orders to curtail the sustained killings of Nigerians across the country and protect life and properties of Nigerians as this is the primary duty of any responsible Government.

    Read Also: Senators, Reps threaten to impeach Buhari

    “The systematic harassment and humiliation by the Executive of perceived political opponents, people with contrary opinions including Legislators and Judiciary by the police and other security agencies must stop.

    ” There must be strict adherence to the Rule of Law and protection for all citizens by the President and his appointees.

    ” The President must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees and must be ready to sanction those that carry out any act which will ridicule or endanger our country and democracy.

    “The Government should show sincerity in the fight against corruption by not being selective and also prosecute current appointees that have cases pending against them.

    “The sanctity of the National Assembly should be protected and preserved by the Federal Government of Nigeria by not interfering in its business and prosecuting those who invaded the Senate to seize the mace.

    “National Assembly should liaise with International Communities through the IPU, APU,  ECOWAS,  CPA,  Parliament,  Pan African Parliament, EU,  UN,  US congress and UK Parliament to secure our democracy.

    “Democratic elections must be competitive and inclusive by removing the present reign  of fear and intimidation particularly as we approach the forthcoming 2019 elections.

    “The National Assembly will work closely with Civil Society Organisations, Trade Unions and NGOs to further deepen and protect our democracy

    “The President must take immediate steps to contain the growing level of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria especially now that we have advantage of the oil price having risen to $80 per barrel.

    “Both chambers of the National Assembly hereby pass a vote of   confidence on the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the entire leadership of the National Assembly.

    “We reaffirm our earlier resolution of vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police who does nothing other than preside over the killing of innocent Nigerians and consistent framing up of perceived political opponents of the President and outright disregard for constitutional authority, both executive and legislative.

    “Finally, the National Assembly will not hesitate to evoke its Constitutional powers if nothing is done to address the above resolutions passed today”.

    Immediately the session was over, Mohammed Gudaji  (APC, Jigawa) at a press briefing said the impeachment threat will not fall through.

    Signs that the move will fail according to Gudaji were revealed during the stormy session when an impeachment move through a register could not get enough signatures.

    He said lawmakers from the north will not support it because there were certain part of the resolutions that cannot carried immediately by the President.

    While he expressed his support for the resolutions but spoke against  an impeachment procedure against the President, Gudaji however said President Buhari needed to look inward and review the activities of his aides.

    He said some of the President’s aides that could not command any electoral relevance are undermining his efforts at moving the nation forward.

    According to him, Senate President,  Bukola Saraki and Speaker  Yakubu Dogara appealed to the sponsors of the impeachment move to have a change of mind.

    He said while all the members were unanimous on all the resolutions, all hell broke lose when the invocation of necessary constitutional provisions against President Buhari, if he failed to implement the resolutions was raised.

    He said, “I have never seen this kind of hot joint session.  What is the necessary legislative action, what is the necessary action if not impeachment?  Many of us are not interested in threatening the President”

    Kazuare noted that immediately some of them from the North got wind of the plot to impeach the President, they quickly mobilised and formed a group of 162 Northern lawmakers to frustrate the move.

    He said: “Many of us are not in support of threatening the President because he is a man of integrity. We know his heart is clean. But people are complaining about people surrounding him.

    “Today,  I call on the President to checkmate those people. Let him remove anybody that people are complaining about.

    “Let him remove them and bring people  that will move this country forward, because enough is enough.

    “We don’t want a situation whereby some people will create problems for the president, then at the end, we will come to this House and complain against the president.

    “While the president is around in the villa and doesn’t know what is going on in the country. Because unless they come and brief him, and sometimes, they brief him wrongly, and that is the reality.

    “As we are in the House of Representatives, I’m sure we have some members in the Senate, I’m sure we will not allow anybody to threaten the President.

    “The President will remain the President and he will be re- elected, when he finishes his eight years, he will go, then anybody can come. But that threat is the only thing that worried me in the Chamber.

    “Because after all the resolutions, they said without the executive adopting the resolutions we will use any legislative power that we have against them.

    “The issue of people collecting signatures to serve notice of impeachment to the president, we know it’s there in the House. But we know nobody can afford to come and show us that they will impeach the President in the Chamber.

    “Nobody will do that, because their is no two-third. I’m sure there is no two- third in the House of Representatives because our group, we are strong enough to stop any impeachment

    “I agree with the legislature for saying that we have to improve the security of this country and that the killings must end. This is accepted, and the issue of the people around the president that are not performing, I accept that the president should change them or sack them.

    “Issue of intimidating people like intimidating a whole Senate President, saying he sponsored a robbery, a whole Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it embarrassed this institution. I will not support it and I’m sure the President never supported it”.

    Signs that all was not well became apparent immediately the Senate reconvened for plenary and went into Executive Session around 11am.

    The closed session of the upper chamber ended around 12.30 pm.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, announced after the closed session that they discussed National Assembly and Senate issues in particular.

    He further said that they resolved to hold a joint Executive Session with members of the House of Representatives.

    Saraki mandated Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, to move a motion for the Senate to go to the House of Representatives chamber for the emergency joint Executive Session.

    Lawan did.

    The motion was seconded by Minority Leader, Godswill Apkabio.

    Members of the upper chamber were also said to have held a “strategic meeting” on Monday night to articulate issues for discussion.

    While the Executive Session in the House of Representatives lasted, activities in the National Assembly were held up.

    It was learnt that after the adoption of vote of confidence on Saraki and Dogara, some Senators and members of the House mounted presure on Saraki to immediately declare to run for the seat of the President of the country “because we need leadership”.

    National Assembly workers were observed milling around the lobby while a horde of security operatives swarmed the nooks and crannies of the Assembly complex.

    At the House of Representatives, Speaker Dogara told members that the business of the day would be expeditiously treated to enable them convoke an emergency joint executive session with the Senate.

  • Old students plan N5m project for college

    Old Students Association (1979-1984 set) of Titcombe College, Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State has a N5 million infrastructural development plan for the institution.

    Every member of the association is expected to contribute a minimum of N50,000 for the execution of the projects, National President of the association Biola Adimula has said.

    She told THE NATION that the decision was arrived at the end of the association’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    Mrs. Adimula, an Ilorin-based legal practitioner said “the following projects were resolved for execution: Renovation of the two dilapidated academic toilets, welfare schemes for teachers and incentives programs for students, renovation and furnishing of the principal’s office and renovation of the sport facilities.

    “All project to be completed and be commissioned on the 9th of September, 2019.”

    She added that “thanksgiving service slated for Second ECWA Church, Amilegbe, Ilorin will hold on September 9, 2018 considering the fact that Titcombe College is an ECWA school and our principal Dr. Job Adewumi attends the 2nd ECWA church.”

    She said donations and contributions for the projects have commenced in earnest.

  • Why I can’t appear before Senate – IGP

    Senate accuses police boss of avoiding scrutiny

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has given reasons why he cannot personally appear before the Senate.

    The IGP, who faulted the Senate’s insistence on his personal appearance, said his presence at the Senate was unnecessary because the issues for which he was invited were not personal.

    He said if he was to personally honour every invitation sent to the office of the IGP, he would have no time for his main responsibilities.

    The IGP said he was allowed under the Constitution and Police Act to delegate responsibilities, including directing some of his subordinates to represent him where he is invited.

    His position is contained in a suit filed by the IGP before the Federal High Court, Abuja through his lawyer, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN).

    The IGP queried the propriety of the Senate’s decision to insist on his physical presence and its decision to enquire into issues relating to the charges filed against Senator Dino Melaye and on which he had been arraigned.

    The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/457/2018, has the President of the Senate and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as defendants.

    The Senate, in a letter dated April 25 this year, invited the IGP to appear before it in relation to the purported inhuman treatment of Melaye and killings in the country.

    The IGP honoured the Senate’s invitation on April 26 this year, but was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) and Commissioner of Police, Kogi State.

    The Senate denied the two representatives of the IGP audience, but instead, rescheduled the meeting for May 2 and insisted that the IGP must honour its invitation in person.

    The IGP, in a supporting affidavit, stated that his choice of the DIG (Operations) and CP, Kogi State was because they were conversant with the issues for which he was invited.

    He argued that it was not compulsory that the occupant of the office of the IGP must honour every invitation in person.

    The IGP noted that the invitation letter from the Senate, with the title: “Invitation to brief the Senate on the inhuman treatment of Senator Dino Melaye over a matter that is pending in court,” showed that the Senate was aware Melaye “is facing a criminal charge in a court.”

    The plaintiff argued that he is not answerable to the defendants in respect of a case pending in court, but to the judicial arm of government, before whom the case was pending.

    He added: “The said Senator Dino Melaye is facing a charge of criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms before a court of competent jurisdiction in Kogi State.

    Read Also: Police recover 4,000 prohibited firearms – IGP

    “The heading of the said letter, which reads inter alia inhuman treatment meted to Senator Dino Melaye, who is a member of the 1st and 2nd defendants, clearly show the motive of the briefing.

    “Once a charge is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it is only the judicial arm of government that adjudicates and disposes of the matter one way or the other, and not subject to the oversight functions in Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution as claimed by the defendants.

    “Chapter Viii Rule 53(5) of the Senate’s Standing Order prohibits any reference to any matter in which any judicial decision is pending, in this case, the pending charge against Senator Dino Melaye before the court in Lokoja, Kogi State.

    “There is no how the discussion on the Dino Melaye’s case by the 1st and 2nd defendants will not relate to or impact on the matter in court,” the IGP said.

    The plaintiff therefore prayed the court to among others; restrain the defendants, any of their committees or agents from insisting that he must appear before them in person.

    The IGP also urged the court to declare as unconstitutional, the defendants’ insistence that he appears in person before them or any of their committees is contrary to the combined provisions of Section 21d(1)(a) of the Constitution and sections 2, 5, 6 and 7(1) of the Police Act.

    The defendants, in a counter affidavit, accused the IGP of using the court to shield himself from being scrutinized by the Legislature.

    They stated that the IGP’s representatives were denied audience  because of “the weighty issues which requires clarification, as they touched on the very soul of our national existence and in order to ensure fruitful and meaningful deliberations.”

    They prayed the court to reject the plaintiff’s prayers and dismiss the suit.

    When the case was called on Thursday, Izinyon informed the court that it was scheduled for the hearing of the substantive suit, and that he was ready.

    The defendants were not represented, but the court confirmed receiving a letter from the defendant’s lawyer, seeking a stand down till 12noon.

    Although Izinyon agreed to wait, the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho elected to adjourn to another date on the grounds that a stand down was not feasible.

    He adjourned to June 29 for the hearing of the substantive suit.

     

  • Slain Benue priests: Olorunmolu leads Kogi Catholic procession

    The Bishop of Lokoja Diocese, Bishop Martins Olorunmolu and the Catholic community in the Kogi State capital and environs, on Tuesday, defied the morning downpour as they joined other adherents across the country, in protest against the recent killings of two Catholic priests and 17 other worshippers in Benue State.

    The adherents gathered at the Bishop’s Court, Government House, Lokoja as early as 8am, moving through major streets of the capital, with rosaries in their hands, and in prayers and supplication to God.

    Read Also: Catholic Church warns politicians against disturbing peace

    Olorunmolu, while addressing the Christian faithful, said there was too much bloodshed in the nation and called on the Federal Government to urgently address the situation.

    He said that a country where Christians can no longer worship freely, for fear of attacks and wanton killings, constituted serious threat to peaceful coexistence, and called on politicians to avoid playing politics with human lives

    He lamented the high rate of poverty and sufferings among the populace in the state, due to non-payment of salaries.

    He called on Governor Yahaya Bello to allow his administration wear a human face.

    He said that schools run by the Catholic mission, were not unaffected by the hardship, as they too are now passing through tough time, as the parents can no longer afford to pay the school fees of their children and wards, owing to non-payment of salaries.

    The procession ended at the Immaculate Catholic Cathedral, Lokoja, with prayers and Thanksgiving.

  • I have bounced back , says Melaye

    The senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, on Monday boasted that he has bounced back after his travails.

    Melaye in a tweet noted that though he was taken to the “dead end”, blackmail could not prevail over him.

    Melaye who had been battling to save his political career insisted that attempts to seal his lips from speaking against “tyranny, politics of oppression and blackmail” have failed.

    It was not clear whether Melaye twitted from his hospital bed at the National Hospital, Abuja where he had been recuperating after jumping out of a police van that was taking him to Lokoja, Kogi State capital to face trial for alleged gunrunning.

    He said in the tweet “Someone once said, that, rock bottom is good solid ground and a dead-end street is just a place to turn around. In the last few weeks, I have been taken to the good solid ground at the rock bottom and they couldn’t go further. I have been brought to the dead-end street but with you standing by my side, I have turned around and bounced back to the chagrin of those who sought to seal my lips from speaking out against tyranny, politics of oppression and blackmail.

    “They, unleashed an endless barrage of physical, psychological, metaphysical and emotional torture and assault on me, but, through the power of the Most High, and you the good people of Nigeria, we have once again, seen the triumph of truth over lies and good over evil.

    “ It was Edmund Burke who was quoted as saying that when bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, … in a contemptible struggle. I am of all men, a blessed man, to have courageous and dependable people like you as my fellow soldiers in the struggle to free us from the shackles of political strongholds and tyranny. It is to you and my most wonderful and ever knowledgeable people of Kogi State, especially Kogi West, that I owe my deepest gratitude. You stood by me against the state and your own ‘best political self-interest’.

    “The state unleashed its raw power on me and released 200 man-strong fully armed policemen – on a man without a knife nor a bullet. It did this because I called injustice by its name and called for accountability. For this they sought to break my spirit and destroy me permanently. In their moment of reign, I was fully shackled. With my hands tied to my back, and hurled into a dark solitary confinement waiting for the butchers knife, you, my people stood by me.

    “You came against a raging fire and stood up against tyranny, lies, filthy lucre, injustice, persecution and greed. While in the dark and unable to fight for myself, they sought to take my mandate, which you had freely given to me. But you answered back and quenched deceit in its wake. You stood resolute and unflinching and defended your mandate to me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. In their attempt to break me, they have made me stronger.

    “To you my indefatigable leaders; my irremovable President of the Senate, a man of immeasurable vision for Nigeria and true fighter for the enthronement of true democracy and the rule of law, Sen. (Dr.) Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

    “The fearless Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, I thank you both for your steadfastness in the defence of the Nigerian Constitution and the enthronement of the Rule of Law, justice and equity and the emasculation of anti-democratic forces and tyranny everywhere in Nigeria. I am eternally grateful to you.

    “To the entire National Assembly Membership, especially my colleagues in the Senate, I am eternally indebted to you for not playing politics but standing courageously against oppression and terror. You have shown yourself leaders on whom Nigeria’s hope for tomorrow can be assured.

    Read Also: Dino’s trials

    “To you our governors, ministers, my dear Okun people and leaders, the National Chairman and Kogi State Executive of the PDP, leaders of the Diplomatic Corps, opinion leaders, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, Chief Ricky Tarfa SAN, human rights lawyers and activists, and all my well-wishers and lovers of democracy in Nigeria; the Christian and Muslim Community, all of you that visited me in the National Hospital, after I was injured and subsequently detained at the hospital. I thank you all for your steadfastness in the defence of due process and the rule of law. I also thank you for your courage and solidarity.

    “Our ever foresighted and courageous civil society leadership, the media, leaders of thought across the country, our hard-working youth for whom I will give my last blood, our loving mothers and sisters, I lack words to express to you my profound gratitude for the unbreakable chord of love that binds me to you through thick and thin. You have strengthened my resolve and hardened my flesh against those who seek to devour and make meat of me. You have once again proven to me the axiom in the saying that “in prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends.” I am very grateful. For your sake, I remain unbowed.

    “I know many of you worry about my safety and life in this new dispensation where life is no longer sacred in Nigeria. But do not be troubled. My bond of love for you, my good people, makes it impossible for me to consider my self-risk, safety, comfort or opportunity in my unflinching commitment to stand up for you, to stand up for truth and if necessary die for the truth and the emancipation of our people from the chains of poverty and oppression. Though they raise spurious allegations against me, bear false witness against me, though they seek to frighten me and lure me into their bounty of evil, I will fear no foe.

    “Yes, my traducers and torturers wish that I keep quiet; though they seek to seal my lips, to silence my voice forever, I remain ever more resolute and committed. I am committed to this cause for which I am a politician; the cause of the down trodden, to speak truth to power and stand against oppression and injustice. On these issues there will be no compromise. I owe no apologies and I tender none.

    “Like I have always said, you speak the truth, you die, you don’t speak the truth, you die. I have chosen to speak the truth, dead or alive. Rev. Martin Luther King Jnr., once said, “Cowardice asks the question – is it safe? Expediency asks the question – is it politics? Vanity asks the question – is it popular? But conscience asks the question – is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right.”

    “To my people, I promise you this and this only. I have taken my position, I will not hold back, I will not hold my peace, I will not be shut down, neither will I shut-up, not as long as injustice and falsehood continues to reign, as long as I will live, I will not bow to Baal.

    “May the Almighty continue to keep you all and be your bulwark until victory is assured. Once again, I thank you all so much. God bless you. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

  • Why we are not paying salaries regularly – Kogi Govt

    The Kogi State Government says huge loan servicing is responsible for its inability to pay the salaries of its workers regularly.

    Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the state Director-General, Media and Publicity made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lokoja.

    Fanwo said that the loans were taken by the two previous administrations for projects that did not add value to the state.

    “Sometimes, we repay between N400 million and N500 million monthly as loans that add no value to the state.

    “These loans were taken by the last two administrations and some of them were invested on projects that were never completed.

    “When you go out, you will see Kogi Hotels, billions of naira was collected for that project and it was not completed, and it is not adding any value to the state.

    “Also, the Kogi House in Abuja has gulped billions of naira, yet, it is not completed, not adding any value to the state,’’ he said.

    The DG said the previous administrations collected N200 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) development, which was not used for the purpose intended.

    According to him, rather than using the money for SMEs development, some people just shared the money.

    “There is no record of anybody given loan and now we are repaying. So all of these have taken its toll on the resources and finances of the state’’

    He said despite the poor resources accruing to the state, the government still strive to pay workers’ salaries.

    “We cannot shy away from the fact that the resources that is coming to the state now has dwindled due to the loans we are repaying.

    “It is increasingly difficult to muster enough resources to pay salaries regularly.

    “As I speak with you, we are still owing March and April salaries,’’ Fanwo said.

    He said despite the dwindling resources of the state, the government will remain committed in the payment of salaries even if not as when due.

    “When you do a comparative analysis of wages in the North Central geo political zone, Kogi pays the highest and despite that, we have been very faithful,’’ Fanwo said.

    The DG denied allegations that workers were being owed 24 months salary.

    He said those peddling the falsehood were the people that benefited from the rot in the state in the past.

    On bailout funds received from the Federal Government, Fanwo said that they were used to pay workers’ salaries.

    He, however noted that the bail out funds were not free gifts.

    “The bailout funds were not gifts from the Federal Government, it was more or less a loan, so you have to prioritise what you use your bailout funds for.

    “So, we used it basically for salaries and we were the only state in the federation that published how we used that bailout funds.

    “Transparency and accountability are the hallmarks of this administration,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • Herdsmen in military uniform killing people in Kogi – Reps member raises alarm

    Lauds Nigerian Army for first wave of arrest

    Calls on FG, KGSG to end herdsmen menace

     

    Many communities in parts of Kogi West senatorial zone now live in  fear following fatal attacks, burning of farmland and houses along with looting by bands of herdsmen in military uniform, Honorable Teejay Yusuf has said.

    Raising an alarm and calling on both the Kogi state and Federal Government to help end the wave of killings that began on Monday, 14th May 2018,  Yusuf who represents Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency of Kogi state in the House of Representatives stated that victims in affected communities recall being attacked by a group of almost fifty armed herdsmen in military uniform.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, Hon Yusuf lauded the Nigerian Army for arresting an unspecified number of the suspected killer herdsmen who had been terrorizing communities along Obajana-Kabba road on Wednesday, adding that Kogi state and the Federal Government must do everything in their power to prevent the state from sliding into anarchy.

    Urging citizens to guard against revenge attacks, Hon Yusuf condemned what he described as the attackers’ ‘devilish rampage’ and counseled that everyone should allow government to get to the root of the problem.

    “At around  4.30 am on Monday, 14 May, 2018, there were simultaneous attacks on Tiv people in Iluagba and Illai communities in Ijumu local government area and Mopa-Amuro local government area of Kogi West respectively and people reported that about fifty suspected Fulani herdsmen in military uniform burnt farmlands being cultivated by some Tiv people and killed four persons.

    “The men whose weapons were said to include Ak-47 rifles also burnt houses and carted away people’s food supplies.

    “In broad daylight, around 2pm on Tuesday 15th May, 2018, two men who were returning from the farm in Agbede Apa: a village along Obaiana-Kabba Road encountered these audacious bandits; one of the men fled with injuries while the other one, was killed and his corpse is now at the mortuary of the General Hospital Kabba.

    “While many wonder why our law-abiding rural people could be under the threat of such armed and rampaging bandits, we must all note that after the traumatizing experience, many communities in my area now live in under an atmosphere of needless intimidation and palpable fear,” he said.

    According to the legislator, most farmers now fear to spend much time on their farms and there is high anxiety that can only be reduced by firm, prompt and consistent effort from government.

    “We commend the military for arresting some of the suspected attackers by Wednesday but peace can only be restored when all the suspected attackers are rounded up and made to face justice.

    “As we continue to encourage our people to continue striving to sustain the peace and unity that the entire Kogi West area is historically known for, we plead that the Kogi state government must ensure that our area is not turned into a theatre of war.

    “We also call on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that it lives up to citizens’ expectations, especially as the safety of lives and properties remain the most fundamental basis upon which government exists.

    “Kogi state and the Federal Government should urgently help safeguard the lives of our people because dangerously armed herdsmen in military uniform have begun wanton killing of my people,” Honourable Teejay Yusuf stated.

  • Kogi APC holds parallel congress in Lokoja LG

    The All Progressives Congress (APC)  in Kogi on Saturday again held parallel congress during the local government congress in Lokoja Local Government.

    NAN reports that on May 6, the ward congress by the APC was plunged into confusion, as both Audu/Faleke and Gov. Yahaya Bello factions held separate exercise.

    A Correspondent of the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the exercise in Lokoja Local Government reports that the development led to emergence of two parallel executives of the party in the local government.

    In Lokoja Local Government , the parallel congresses were held at the St Luke Primary School, Adankolo and Lokoja Local Government hall.

    While the faction led by the state Chairman of the party, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo held its congress at St Luke Primary School, the Alhaji Ibrahim Ahovi led faction held its own inside the hall.

    Mr Usman Mamanlafia emerged Chairman at the Congress that took place at St LukePry School while Mr Maikudi Bature, was elected the new Chairman at the Congress which held at the local government hall.

    The elections went peacefully at the two venues with the presence of 248 delegates from the 10 wards in Lokoja Local Government.

    The Congress held at St Luke Primary School was supervised by INEC officials while policemen were on ground to provide security.

    Speaking shortly after, Mailafia pledged to run an inclusive administration , urging aggrieved party members to close ranks.

    Bature who emerged winner at the factional Congress held inside the local government hall promised to meet the expectations of party members in the council area.

    Earlier , the Chairman of the Congress Committee, Mr Haruna Isah had while announcing the result said that Bature and other executive members emerged by affirmation.

    He said that all the 248 delegates from the 10 wards in the local government participated in the Congress.

    Isah described the Congress as peaceful, saying that the party’s laid down rules and INEC guidelines were duly followed.

  • Alleged torture: Motorcyclist committed suicide, says NSCDC

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Tuesday debunked reports that a commercial motorcyclists, Onimisi Ilori was tortured to death by its operatives in Kogi State, while in custody.

    Ilori allegedly died in custody over the weekend in the Ogaminana area of Adavi Local Government Area, Kogi State, following a complain that was lodged at the Ogaminana divisional office of the civil defense corps.

    The owner of the motorcycle, whose name remains unknown, had alleged that the deceased bolted with it.

    The NSCDC in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Agiri Alex, explained that contrary to reports, the suspect was not tortured to death but that he committed suicide while in their cell.

    Reports however had it that operatives at the Ogaminana division invited the suspect to their office for interrogation after the owner lodged a complain.

    The suspect was said to have told them that the said motorcycle was stolen from where he parked it the previous day and that he reported the theft to the owner.

    Ilori was said to have been tortured and detained in the NSCDC cell, where he was said to have breathed his last.

    Motorcyclists in the area invaded the NSCDC office, when they heard of the death of their colleague, chanting war songs and demanding the release of his corpse.

    Anti-riot policemen were drafted to the affected areas to forestall the breakdown of law and order.