Bandits killed 19 persons and injured several others at Agojeju-Odo community in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi on Thursday.
A community member alleged that a running battle between militia groups in parts of Benue and some bandits led to the onslaught on the sleepy towns of Agojeju-Odo, Ajokpachi-Odo, Bagaji and environs.
“They destroyed farm produce with ease in an attempt to draw the communities into the conflict,’’ he said.
Retired Commodore Jerry Omodara, Special Adviser on Security to Gov. Usman Ododo confirmed the incident on Friday when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja.
He said the governor had ordered a thorough investigation of the incident.
“The killing of 19 innocent and armless residents of the community by alleged hired militiamen is very callous, unacceptable and condemnable.
“The area is now calm, however, following the deployment of security operatives, who are keeping vigil there,’’ he said.
Omodara said property; especially houses, vehicles, and crops were destroyed in the attack.
He called on people of Agojeju-Odo and neighbouring communities to remain calm as government and security agencies were on top of the situation.
Police spokesman in Kogi, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, also confirmed the attack and assured that security operatives were keeping vigil over the community to forestall further attacks.
“A tactical response team of the police, the military, and members of vigilance groups has been deployed in the area. Normalcy has since returned to the troubled community.
A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lokoja, on Tuesday remanded three robbery suspects for allegedly attacking and dispossessing students of their belongings in Kogi.
The suspects were arrested and arraigned for terrorising student communities of Adakolo, Felele, Bassa Village and Crusher suburb areas of Lokoja, the confluence city.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that students of Federal University Lokoja (FUL) were on March 23 and 25, attacked by hoodlums who dispossessed them of their valuables such as smart phones, computers and other items.
The three suspects – Abbas Salisu, Gimba Ibrahim and Mamud Lawal Kwara – were arraigned by the Department of State Security Service (DSS).
The suspects had earlier confessed to have stolen 33 phones during interrogation by the DSS before their arrangement at the court in Lokoja.
The Prosecution counsel, Olanrewaju Yahaya, filed four count charges of criminal conspiracy, theft of phones valued at one million naira, and dishonestly receiving stolen property.
The charge also include belonging to a gang of thieves that are stealing the belongings of Students of Kogi State Polytechnic and Federal University Lokoja.
The prosecution counsel urged the court to remand the accused persons at the Koton Karfe Medium Custodian Centre, pending the investigation and hearing of the case.
The trial Chief Magistrate, Abdullahi Mopah, remanded the suspects in Koton Karfe Custodial Centre after pleading not guilty to the charges.
The case was thereafter adjourned till May 9, for hearing.
Similarly, the Chief Magistrate Court also remanded one Austin Obaje in Koton-Karfe Centre for alleged impersonation, extortion and fraud.
Obaje was dragged before the court for allegedly and consistently using the name of Department of State Services to defraud the unsuspecting public.
Obaje was brought to court on charges that he had fraudulently obtained N300,000 from one Dr. Simeon Oyigun Omakoji, under the false pretence that he was sent by the State Director, DSS, Mr Tosin Ajayi.
Austin was also said to have committed an extortion by deliberately putting one Dr. Simeon Oyigun Omakoji, in fear of death to wit, that the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, had sent assassins and kidnappers to eliminate him.
The Defence Counsel, William Alewo, urged the court to grant the defendant bail to enable him to prepare to defend his case, noting that he will not jump the bail or interfere in the investigation.
The Chief Magistrate, Abdullahi Mopah, in his ruling, remanded the defendant in the custody of Koton Karfe Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till May 9, for hearing and continuation.
Youths from Kogi State have declared they won’t fold their arms and allow those they described as desperate politicians continue to drag the name of an otherwise great state in the mud.
The youths, from the three senatorial districts of the state, under the aegis of Kogi Independent Youths Association, cautioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to be wary of politicians who they said meant no good for Kogi State but out to use the Commission to achieve selfish objectives detrimental to the wellbeing and unity the state had enjoyed in the past years.
They made these remarks after an emergency leadership meeting, in Abuja, insisting as critical stakeholders, they had decided not to keep quiet but to warn all embittered politicians in the state to stop portraying its image in a bad light before the whole world.
Comrade Mohammed Abdulrazaq, from Igalamela Local Government Area of Kogi State, who spoke on behalf of the youths, stressed that they would not allow “embittered politicians” to turn Kogi State into an ethnic enclave of crisis and would employ every legal means to protect the integrity of the state.
The youths, however, said they were confident that the current leadership of the EFCC would not fall for the antics of the said politicians and would also not allow themselves to be used as a tool to achieve the selfish interests of a few embittered people.
The Kogi Independent Youths Association is made up of about 500 registered members, mainly graduates, with thousands of nominal members and supporters across all the 21 local government areas of the state.
Abdulrazaq said: “We will not wait to gather money for a proper press conference because this is a very important issue. We believe we must use every means at our disposal to speak up, defend the truth, expose the real enemies of Kogi State and warn them to change their ways.
“We are here to caution the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to advise them that they must be wary of those individuals whose intentions are not noble and who are out there to use the Commission as a tool to fight their political battles.
“There are some desperate Kogi politicians who are hell bent on using the EFCC to fight and achieve their selfish political interests and we, as youths of Kogi State, we must not keep quiet because an injury to one is an injury to all.”
In between solidarity songs, the youths stated:”We must not keep quiet on this for a man who has done well for Kogi State. We know and they know that the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has done well in the area of infrastructure. We know and they know that the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has done well in the area of youth empowerment, youth inclusion and women inclusion in politics as far as Kogi State is concerned.
“We know and they know that former Governor Yahaya Bello has done well in the area of education, also lifting the face of our institutions in Kogi State. And when he needs a rest now, after serving Kogi State diligently for eight years, we cannot pay him back with this bad coin.
“This is why we are here today to condemn some Kogi State politicians, desperate Kogi State politicians, embittered Kogi State politicians, who feel they can divide the state along ethnic lines. We are saying Kogi State is one and we are one united people. We will not allow them to turn Kogi State into an ethnic enclave of crisis.
“We must stand as youths to fight against this. We are critical stakeholders in the present and future of Kogi State. We are not just leaders of tomorrow but the champions of the change today that is critical to the development process. Of course, if our leaders in the state are quiet on this, we will not remain quiet.
“So we are cautioning and warning all the embittered politicians of Kogi State to stop portraying the image of Kogi State in a bad light in the face of the whole world. Kogi State is not like that and we must also ensure that we maintain the name and integrity of our dear state.”
“If all our demands fall on deaf ears, we will be left with no option than to utilise all legal means to drive home our demands.”
Mild drama continued at the Kogi Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday as some witnesses disowned their depositions before the panel.
Four witnesses from Adavi Local Government Area of the state gave their evidence for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) before the three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu.
The witnesses, when called, gave virtually the same narration regarding what transpired where they voted even though they were in different polling units during the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship poll.
The four witnesses, like the previous ones, adopted their witness depositions on oath.
However, during cross-examination by the defence counsel, they made claims different from what was in the witness depositions.
When shown their deposition, they disowned it, saying it was not written by them while also confirming that they were not polling agents but random voters.
One of the witnesses, Rufai Muhammed, who said he was from Adavi Local Government, stated in his deposition that there was no validly accredited voter for the said election.
Upon cross examination, however, he said he was validly accredited to vote and he voted.
When his attention was drawn to his witness deposition on oath, which said there was no validly accredited voter for the election that he witnessed, he denied the deposition, saying he did not write it.
Another witness, Yakubu AbdulAzeez, said he stood at a particular point throughout the voting period on election day observing the proceedings, and that it was from that point he saw that there was over-voting.
AbdulAzeez, who said he stood watching the voting process, however, could not stand during the tribunal hearing.
He told the panel that he had been suffering from a leg problem since 2008 and the panel directed that he should be given a seat.
Claiming that he stood for hours in a spot to monitor an election that took place in November 2023 thus became an issue of concern.
On his part, Hamza Abdul Azeez said he wrote a letter of complaint to the tribunal that there was over-voting.
But when asked how many votes each political party actually scored in his polling unit, he said he did not know.
The witnesses said their lawyers wrote their depositions for them, but added that they couldn’t remember the names of the lawyers.
The tribunal adjourned the matter until April 2 after Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, sought an adjournment.
While Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, represented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ibrahim Sani Muhammed, SAN, appeared for Gov. Usman Ododo, and AbdulWahab Muhammed ,SAN, represented the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the sitting.
The witnesses who testified on Monday were Hamza Abdul Azeez, Said Muhammed, Yakubu Abdul Azeez and Rufai Muhammed, all from Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi.
It would be recalled that the SDP is challenging the victory of Gov. Ododo of the APC in the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship election in the state.
The Kogi State Government has debunked what it described as a headless allegation by the Social Democratic Party(SDP) that it masterminded attacks on witnesses at the ongoing Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
It said the allegation was not only reckless but stands logic on its head.
It said contrary to the propaganda of the SDP, discerning members of the public were following the Tribunal case and would know that there was no way anyone would plot an attack against witnesses that were already testifying against those who paid them to testify and doing enough to make SDP lose woefully.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said it was, however, important to enlighten the SDP that the case at the Tribunal was between parties and that the State Government, which it accused, was not one.
Fanwo, who spoke at a briefing
in Lokoja, on Saturday, noted that if any attack did happen as claimed by the SDP, “it must have been stage-managed by the SDP to justify their failure to produce the number of witnesses they claimed to have in line with their modus operandi as witnessed during the campaign.”
“Why would anyone attempt or even attack a witness that has testified against those that paid him to witness for them? The discerning public is following the tribunal case and understands there is no need to attack witnesses that are doing enough to make SDP lose woefully in the law court,” he said.
The state government noted that it was absurd and incomprehensible for the SDP to continue to exhibit anti-democratic tendencies and provoke the sensibility of the people in such a reckless manner, adding that “if they are so confident in their incompetent petition, why resort to self help?”
“As a legitimate Government, we won’t be soiled in the oil of subjudice that the SDP has engaged in with impunity. We will protect all the people and residents of the State and also protect our integrity and image,” the Commissioner stated.
He said, “We wouldn’t have bothered to respond to the barking of the SDP and its leadership as the State Government is busy with governance; but it is important to set the record straight and address the minds of the public to the tradition of lies by the SDP.
“The Kogi State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Alh Ahmed Usman Ododo, the democratically elected Governor of the State, will be undaunted in its resolve to serve the people of the State rather than be entangled in the propaganda festival by a jobless and idle party.”
According to him, the Kogi State Government is unwavering in its stance on security and constitutionalism as the basic minimum in ensuring a peaceful and secured state.
The Commissioner added that it was the responsibility of the Government to protect all citizens, irrespective of their political or religious persuasions.
“To this end, the State Government did not receive any report of politically stirred crisis and therefore surprised at the blatant, false, spurious and pedestrian claims by the Social Democratic Party in the party’s usual way of whipping up sentiments and spreading falsehood to win public sympathy,” he said.
The state government stated, “It is clear that SDP’s petition is suffering an irreversible setback at the Tribunal as the comedians they presented as witnesses probably didn’t rehearse their lines well or they are falling because their claims have their foundation in fiction. It will be unacceptable for them to vent their impending failure on the State Government that is doing all it can to provide security for all in the State.
“The Kogi State Government doesn’t subscribe to violence and actions that breach the peace of the State. We will also not accept statements deliberately made to incite the people against the Government and possibly spark panic. The SDP must always be prepared for the consequences of their actions and utterances against the Kogi State Government or its officials.
“The illogic of the SDP’s claims is characteristic of a party that is desperately making efforts to hug the limelight through propaganda.
“The Governor of Kogi State is a law abiding gentleman who is working hard to consolidate on the achievements of the immediate past administration. He promised to protect all Kogites irrespective of their political and religious beliefs. His commitment to fulfilling such promises is iron cast and unimpeachable.
“For the National Chairman of the SDP to make false claims against the Kogi State Government before gentlemen of the Press is further proof of the party’s irrelevance and the reason the party is not controlling any state in the Federation. Kogi State cannot be a podium for the SDP to test its songs of division, ethnic bigotry and violence.
“We urge the people of the State to go about their normal businesses as there won’t be any chance for anyone to attack any Kogite. No stone will be left unturned to ensure peace and security in the State.”
The Kogi Police Command on Friday finally confirmed the armed robbery attacks on two banks in Ayingba, where a police officer was killed.
The State Police Commissioner, Mr Bethrand Onuoha, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Lokoja by the command’s spokesperson, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, a day after the incident occured.
The robbers were reported to have stormed First Bank of Nigeria and Access bank at Ayingba town in Dekina Local Government of the State around 5.00 p. m. of Thursday.
The dare devil robbers reportedly carted away unspecified sum of money from the two banks even in the face of fierce resistance from the security operatives.
“Meanwhile, one Police Constable paid the supreme price during the exchange of fire with the hoodlums before the arrival of the reinforced team to the scenes and the attackers fled, ” the CP said.
Onuoha, who reportedly visited the scenes for on-the-spot assessment on Friday, vowed: “The hoodlums will be apprehended soon.”
He ordered the deployment of tactical teams, comprising PMF Personnel, Counter Terrorism, Quick Response and Intelligence Units in synergy with other security sgencies to restore normalcy in the area.
The CP assured Kogi residents of the command’s unwavering commitment to working in synergy with other security agencies as well as patriotic stakeholders in ensuring the state was safe and secured for all and sundry.
He further tasked the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department to commence investigation into the incident with a view to bringing the perpetrators to deserved justice.
The CP further urged the people of Kogi to continue to collaborate with the security agencies with credible information on the activities of anyone reasonably suspected within their neighborhood. (NAN)
The Federal Government is set to engage no fewer than 2,800 peasant farmers through its Odo-Ape Dam project in Kogi state.
About 3,000 metric tonnes of grains and vegetables would be produced through the scheme.
Minister of Water Sanitation and Water Resources Prof. Joseph Utsev, said this at a conference in Odo-Ape, Kabba/Bunu local government area of Kogi state, adding that government plans to develop aqua-culture through the project.
He added that the dam has the capacity to produce about 500 tonnes of fishes annually. The Odo Ape Dam was awarded to an indigenous construction firm, Turning Point Engineering Limited, in 2018, with the aim of providing irrigation for about 700 hectares of farmland.
Prof Utsev described the project as timely, stressing that it comes at a time when the Federal Government has declared a state of emergency on food security.
He said that since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, he has demonstrated commitment to the development of dams in the country to promote all-year-round farming.
He assured that his ministry will continue to be the vanguard of government efforts to meet the needs of Nigerians in the area of provision of potable water, sanitation, and food security.
The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, yesterday, struck out the petition filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP) against the election victory of Governor Ahmed Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11 governorship poll in the state.
The three-member panel chaired by Justice Ado Birnin–Kudu struck out the petition following its withdrawal by counsel for APP, Daniel Edeachi.
The application, seeking the withdrawal of the petition was not opposed by lawyer to Governor Ododo, Ibrahim Muhammed, SAN; counsel to APC, DC Denwigwe, SAN, and that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kanu Agabi, SAN.
The tribunal, in a ruling upon review of the affidavit of no objection filed by lawyers to the respondents, consequently, struck out the APP petition.
Hearing in the remaining three petitions continues.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that APP had, in the petition number: EPR/KG/GOV/02/2023 filed on Dec. 1, 2023, before the tribunal, challenged the declaration of Ododo as the validly elected governor of Kogi in the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship poll conducted by INEC.
The party had sued Ododo, APC and INEC as 1st to 3rd respondents respectively.
However, in its motion on notice dated and filed on Feb. 15, the party sought two orders, including an order granting leave to the petitioner/applicant to withdraw the Petition No: EPT/KG/GOV/01/2023 and an order striking out or dismissing the petition, having been withdrawn by the petitioner.
Giving eight-ground of argument, APP said though it filed the petition to challenge Ododo’s victory, the party said upon the re-evaluation of the grounds and facts of the petition, it “is not reasonably convinced about the sustainability of the grounds of the petition as presently constituted before this honourable tribunal.
According to the party, the withdrawal of the petition is based on the perceived unsustainability of the grounds of the petition and to avoid overburdening this honourable tribunal with numerous petitions.
“The petitioner or its officers have not connived nor colluded with any party or person for the withdrawal of this petition but based on the overriding interest of justice.
“The petitioner or its officer have not made or entered into any undertaking or agreement with any party or person for the withdrawal of this petition.
“It will be in the interest of justice to grant leave to the petitioner to withdraw this petition and to strike out same in view of the withdrawal,” it averred.
A socio-political organization, Yagba Action Group (YAG), has appealed to the Federal Government for the outright reconstruction of the collapsed Kabba-Egbe-Ilorin road.
They said the road has become a haven for bandits, who are unleasing terror on those who live and travel along the road.
YAG noted that the federal road, which was constructed about 50 years ago, has received attention 33 years after, when it was rehabilitated through the initiative of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).
However, the group commended the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for the inclusion of a section of it in the current palliative repairs of federal roads across the country.
YAG extended its commendation to the senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi and member of House of Representatives for Yagba Federal Constituency, Leke Abejide for their roles culminating in the inclusion of Kabba-Egbe-Ilorin road in the 2024 Appropriation Bill, while urging proactive action towards finding a lasting solutions to the bad road through improved budgetry funding.
YAG General Coordinator, Toba Adebayo Belushi, urged Mangal Industries Limited, owners of the newly established Mangal cement factory in IluHagba, Kogi State, to, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) join in the efforts to fix the road.
He enjoined Senator Karimi and Abejide not to relent in the joint efforts at lobbying the Federal Government and Mangal Industries Limited for immediate action.
YAG enthused that the repair works in Yagba axis between Mopamuro and Yagba West Local Councils, which commenced in the last quarter of 2023, came as a huge relief to motorists and residents of the area, while also serving as an elixir for the socio-economic woes of Yagba people occasioned by the deplorable condition of the road.
The group commended the contractors for doing a good job, while also calling for expedited action to ensure the repairs are completed during the dry season.
The Kogi House of Assembly on Tuesday screened 16 commissioner nominees and nine others with portfolios nominated by the new Gov. Usman Ododo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that among the 16 screened commissioner nominees, 7 are returnees while 9 are new.
The seven commissioner returnees are Salami Ozigi-Deedat, Bashiru Abubakar-Gegu, Wemi Jones, Kingsley Fanwo, Timothy Ojoma, Asiwaju Idris-Asiru and Mohammed Abdulmutalib.
The nine new nominees screened are Farouk Danlam, Adams Abdulaziz, Joseph Oluwasegun-Stephen (JOS), Muzi Yinusa-Abdullahi, Rabiatu Okute, Fatima Momoh, Mohammed Yusuf, Sunday Faleke and Abanika Taye
Other nominees with portfolios, whose names were sent to the house for confirmation are Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to the Governor; Hilary Ojoma, Deputy Chief of Staff and Elijah Evinemi, Head of Service.
Also Jerry Omodara, State Security Adviser; Isah Ismail, Special Adviser on Media; Sulaiman Ibrahim, Director-General Protocol; Oladele Nihi, Chief Press Secretary; Shaibu Oricha, Director-General Government House Administration and Femi Adegboyega, State Legal Adviser.
Sequel to time lag as claimed by the house, all the 16 commissioner nominees only appeared, introduced themselves and took a bow and left without answering a single question from the lawmakers.
The Speaker of the House, Umar Yusuf, commended members of the house for a job well done at screening of the 25 nominees, whom he described as credible and qualified sons and daughters of Kogi.
Yusuf tasked the nominees to live up to expectations of Gov. Ododo, whom he said nominated them to assist him pilot the affairs of the state to greater height.
