Being Native Nupe of Lokoja, our attention has been drawn to a publication with the caption – “DISCLAIMER TO EMMANUEL DAUDA SHELIKA” written and signed by one Musa Tanimu Nasidi, a descendant of one of the Hausa settlers in Lokoja, (now an indigene by virtue of his birth and length of stay in Lokoja but yet, not a Native) who designated himself as the Director Media and Publicity, Lokoja Consultative Forum, published on the 8th day of June, 2025, by his Online Media Blog – ‘The Analyst’ and circulated on the Social Media.
The publication which is not only loaded with falsehood, but mischievous, malicious, defamatory, misleading and capable of disturbing the peace, also betrayed him the writer, his Consultative Forum, their Principal/sponsors, of their venom, the arson committed, the continuous harassments, intimidation, assault and threat to life and property which was vented on HRH Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda Shelika – Nyamkpa IV, The Etsu Lokoja and the Native Nupe of Lokoja when his premises and Palace was trespassed and his car burnt beyond redemption in the early hours of Saturday, 21 December, 2024 and still on rampage as culpable. An attack the ‘A’ Division of the Lokoja Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Command is still investigating.
Mr. Musa Tanimu Nasidi claimed that HRH Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda Shelika – Nyamkpa IV, The Etsu Lokoja, has been evading arrest. It is not clear what type of arrest he means because His Royal Highness is not a lawbreaker neither are we his Nupe Native subjects. Moreover, he is not an enemy of the State, nor of the Nigeria Police. In fact, on our part we have done and continues to do everything in our power to avoid any face-off with anyone that could lead to any breach of the peace not because our aggressors have any monopoly.
However, we wish to hereby, call on the Government under the able leadership of His Excellency Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo and our very dutiful Security Agencies to please, call Mr. Musa Tanimu Nasidi, his Lokoja Consultative Forum and their agents, his Principal and their sponsors for clarification and also hold them responsible for any form of disruption of the peace in Lokoja as well as any further threat to life or property either directly or indirectly by any form of assault or harm to HRH Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda Shelika – Nyamkpa IV,
The Etsu Lokoja, members of his family or their properties as well as any member of the Native Nupe of Lokoja, members of their families or their properties or any Journalist or Media group (several of who have received threats anytime they publish our true and harmless stories), members of their families or their properties.
Let it be clear that HRH Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda Shelika, Nyamkpa IV,
The Etsu Lokoja is not an imposter as claimed by Mr Tanimu Nasidi and his Lokoja Consultative Forum. His Royal Highness is a bonafide native of Lokoja, born right on Mount Pati, the original site of Lokoja to Majiyebo the son of Kabo, the son of Akpara, the son of Nyamkpa who was the founder and first Native Etsu Lokoja.
His Royal Highness Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda Shelika Nyamkpa IV was duly nominated after wide consultations among the Native Nupe of Lokoja (home and in the Diaspora) and was culturally and traditionally installed on the 23rd day of January, 2024 on our ancestral foothold up on Mount Pati, the original site of Lokoja where our Etsus are naturally and culturally installed after due traditional rites by those whose traditional duty it is to install the Etsu Lokoja.
A public reenactment of that installation was held there on the same Mount Pati on the 27th day of July, 2024 ceremonially, with another cultural celebration of the Etsu Lokoja on the 31st day of August, 2024. These events were not held in secret.
By his installation, HRH Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda Shelika Nyamkpa IV is the custodian of both the customary, traditional and cultural instruments as well as the ancient sacred sites of the Native Nupe of Lokoja on Mount Pati, the original site of Lokoja.
After his installation, Letters to the effect were sent to The then Governor, His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello on the 11th day of January, 2024 and to the Hon. Commissioner, Kogi State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on the 15th day of January, 2024, rightly informing the Government of our actions and legitimately requesting for Government recognition and the grading of our age long Stool –
The ‘Etsu Lokoja’, being the earliest and oldest Stool as far as Lokoja is concerned. The letter to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was copied to the Lokoja Local Government Chairman, the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, the Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Kogi State Command, the Commandant, Kogi State Command, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp, the Kogi State House of Assembly and the Secretary to the State Government. So, the Government of Kogi State and the Security Agencies are not ignorant of our existence.
Upon the change in administration, we the Native Nupe of Lokoja followed up with a reminder letter to the present Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Hon. Commissioner, Kogi State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and the Lokoja Local Government Council Chairman on the 11th day of November, 2024, (citing the event of the reenactment ceremonies of July and August, held on Mount Pati as well as passionately appealed for Government action to our request for Government recognition, the grading of our Stool as well as Government Appointment to our installed Etsu Lokoja for equity, fairness, justice and balance since other ethnic groups like the Igala, the Ebira, the Yoruba, the Ibo and the Hausa have Government recognition and graded Stools in Lokoja while the Natives Nupe are yet to have. Copies of the letter to His Excellency / Hon. Commissioner to the Kogi State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was also copied to Government Security Agencies for their information and attention.
In the same vein, when HRH Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda Shelika – Nyamkpa IV, The Etsu Lokoja was attacked and arson committed against him, which was an assault against us, the Native Nupe of Lokoja, we petitioned His Excellency, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo on the 31st day of December, 2024 rather than take laws into our hands through our Sociocultural Organization – Nupe Natives of Lokoja Development Union, requesting his intervention and to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act of arson and threat to life and property to book as well as grant us the necessary Government recognition and the grading of our Stool to forestall any further/future attacks.
It is important to state at this point that what is today known as Lokoja Traditional Council, is a creation of the Colonial British Lords, undermining the Natives and their existing traditional authority which were on ground before their arrival in their scheme to dispossess the Natives of their land and to usurp authority over their resources.
They appointed whosoever they wish through their agent, Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther and the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and to give their action some pseudo legitimacy, they present their appointees who are not Natives of Lokoja to the Etsu Nupe in Bida for his blessing.
Nevertheless, the Native Nupe of Lokoja have continued to kick relentlessly over the years, regardless of the oppression, marginalization and exclusion from the affairs of the governance of our homeland as if we do not exist. We are not felons as Musa Tanimu Nasidi claimed.
The Native Nupe of Lokoja are a distinct host ethnic group being the earliest inhabitants of the ancient Community called Lokoja. We are not subservient to any other as far as Lokoja is concerned. While we are not in contention with the Lokoja Traditional Council (who are an extension and beneficiaries of the Colonial scheme), as Natives and not just indigenes, a distinct people with history, we have our right to exist, right to associate among ourselves and with whosoever we wish to. We have right to assemble and to express ourselves as well as right to promote our culture so long as we are not disorderly or breaching public peace.
We have right to choose our leader, install same and present him to Government for recognition and appointment without any form of approval of a none-native group.
We have right to set up our own administrative organs as well as the right to ask to be included in the affairs of governance in our homeland and to particularly demand for the good interests of our own people like every other ethnic group in the land does.
We therefore, plead with Government and our Security Agencies to help us uphold and protect these rights among others.
In the same vein, we continue to appeal to His Excellency, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo to graciously grant our humble and passionate request for Government recognition, the grading of our Stool and the appointment of our installed Etsu Lokoja to forestall any further harassments, intimidation, marginalization and the unjustifiable exclusion from strategic government activities in Lokoja. We object to every systematic scheme aimed at pushing our people into extinction by whatever means.
We also wish to appeal to our dutiful Security Agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the arson committed against our Etsu Lokoja in December, 2024. It is already over six months already without any visible action or word from the authorities. This could embolden evil doers to continue to hatch their evil acts.
In the face of all of the provocations though, we, the Native Nupe of Lokoja have continued to appeal to ourselves to remain calm as we are optimistic that the impartial and peace loving Government of His Excellency Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, who has zero tolerance for oppression and marginalization will grant our request by the grace of the Almighty God.
May God continue to keep and bless the Native Nupe of Lokoja.
May God continue to keep and bless all our peace loving residents of Lokoja.
May God continue to keep and bless His Excellency Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo and the Government of Kogi State.
Signed:
Fredrick Nyabam – President
Rabiu Abubakar – Vice President
Andrew Nmadu – Secretary
