The Bassa and the Egbura people of Koton Karfe have been coexisting peacefully for centuries despite the 1997/98 Bassa/Egbura crisis that rocked Toto Local Government in Nasarawa state. Though so many Bassas were harassed, molested and others beaten but no one was killed in Igu land.
The recent crisis started in Kpanche Community in Bassa local government of Kogi State where many lives and properties were destroyed. The crisis later escalated to Ugya in Toto Local Government of Nasarawa State when two Bassa boys who were on their way to Ugya from Umaisha were kidnapped and later killed by the Egbura people. The crisis in the area has led to the death of many lives, properties destroyed and thousands displaced.
On the foregoing, the Ohimege Igu of Koton Karfe, HRM Alh. Abdulrazaq Isa-Koto, called on traditional rulers in the area and admonished them to eschew from any act capable of causing crisis in his domain. Adding that anyone caught fermenting trouble in the area will be dealt with.
But despite the Ohimege’s warning, the Bassa people were still being humiliated, harassed, beaten and even robbed along Gegu-Tawari, Koto-Opkareke and Izhite/Ahoko– Sadauna roads by the Egbura people.
As if that is not enough, three persons shot death and their vehicle burned at Agbudu axis along Okpareke–Gbarada road, one on his way from Tuchi Village to Manyare was abducted around Okofi axis.
Fellow sons and daughters of Igu Kingdom, are we choosing war over peace? Are we going to be enemies for ever? Will killings and destruction of properties pay us over harmonious coexistence?
Fellow Kotomites, let us not allow ethnic differences to break us, we have been living together as brothers and sisters. If we judge ourselves on the basis of the language one speak then, our civilization is useless, our education is useless, our spirituality is useless and our political exposure is useless because without the above, our forefathers lived together peacefully.
I therefore call on the Ohimege Igu of Koton Karfe, HRM Alh. Abdulrazaq Isa-Koto, Kogi local government Sole Administrator, Hon. (Barr.) Musa Tanko Osuku and security agencies in the area to intensify efforts to:
(1). Bring those behind the killings to book.
(2). Make sure those mountain road blocks are security agents and not thugs.
In conclusion, let’s make peace, not war, because if we do, it will lead us to a societal acid bath and the consequence will be too bad.
– Sumakada Musa Amos
