Insecurity ; ODA calls for urgent intervention to halt Banditry, kidnappings, in Kogi West.
A Socio-cultural Group of the Yoruba speaking part of Kogi State, Okun Development Association (ODA) has decried the spate of robbery, killings and kidnappings in Okun land, by dreaded gun men suspected to be fulani herders and member of ISWAP.
A statement by Secretary General of ODA, Chief Ben Ayo Abereoran (ALARA) made available to journalists on Thursday in Lokoja. He urged the Federal and State Governments, and their security apparatus to urgently rise up to their responsibility of protecting lives and property of the people.
According to the Secretary General, the call was prompted by the recent increase in the abduction of some indigenes of Mopa/Amuro and Kabba-Bunu Local Government Areas in the Western part of the state.
The association called for improved security in the area towards nipping the recent upsurge in robbery, killings and kidnappings in the entire Okun land and Kogi State in general.
”The Okun development Association is making a clarion call to all security apparatus in the country to come and save us from kidnapping, savagery, banditry and killings being carried out by dreaded, black hooded ISWAP.
”The Okun Nation has been under siege of this criminals since 8th of July 2021, when they attacked a couple driving in their car along Okeagi – Imela road (between Mopamuro and Yagba east LGA) with sporadic gun shots on their car, and left them dead.
”A farmer who was trying to help was mercilessly beaten to stupor after several gun shots couldn’t enter his body.
”On Saturday 10th of July, 2021, the marauders also kidnapped four persons; a man and three women in Mopamuro LGA.
”As if that was not enough, their gang further kidnapped an easy going owner of Lifted Pharmacy on 13th July, 2021, in Kabba. Only God knows who will be the next victim.
”This was what we fore-warned against the open invitation of our Governor to the Fulanis to come and leave in Kogi State when other States’ Governors are weary of them”, the association said.
The association, therefore called on the security agencies to come to the rescue of Okun nation in secure their land and fast track the release of all the kidnapped victims.
