Following fresh Bassa crisis which claimed ten lives yesterday at Sheria town, a security meeting convened by Governor Yahaya Bello at Government House Lokoja ended yesterday with Bassa Kwomu leaders calling for the suspension of the Ohiogba of Mozum, HRH Khalid Bukar II for his involvement in the fresh crisis.
They described the Ohiogba as the architect of all the crisis in Bassa land.
Following the break out of the fresh crisis yesterday at Sheria, Governor Bello immediately convened a security meeting which involved the security Adviser, Air Cmdr Jerry Omadara (rtd), the special Adviser on Local Government Affairs, Engr Abubakar Ohere, the Aguma of Bassa, HRH William Keke, the Ohiagba of Mozum, HRH Khalid Bukar II, top government functionaries from Bassa and some community leaders in the area.
Sources from the meeting which was held yesterday evening revealed that the Ohiogba of Mozum, HRH Khalid Bukar II stormed Sheria town at about 6pm on Sunday with armed soldiers shooting sporadically without the knowledge of the regiment of the army stationed at Oguma nor the Divisional Police Officer at Oguma.
The incident aroused the attention of the vigilantees in the area who have been keeping peace in the community since crisis broke out in the area on April 22, 2018.
The source further said the confusion which ensued during the shooting between the soldiers spearheaded by the Ohiogba and the local vigilantes left the official car of the Ohiagba bullet ridden.
An online report by an Igburra indigene from Biroko, Zubeiru Izegwu on Monday stated that HRH Khalid Bukar was actually in Sheria on Sunday evening with army officers to see what is left of Biroko which has become a ghost town since the crisis broke out over a year ago.
According to Izegwa the visit of the Ohiagba to the area resulted in crisis which almost claimed Ohiogba’s life. He noted that a detachment of soldiers from Anyigba has to be deployed to Sheria to rescue the Ohiogba who was in the midst of the heavy exchange of fire on Sunday night.
He added that during the rescue operation the official vehicle of the Ohiogba was partly damaged but was towed to Lokoja for repairs.
Sources from the security meeting convened in Lokoja yesterday indicated that both the DPO and the Army operational leader at Oguma said the Ohiogba never informed them he will visit Sheria and Biroko with armed soldiers even when the Ohiogba is quiet aware that the crisis in the area has not fully been abated.
The state security adviser, Cmdr Omodara at the Monday meeting has however told both the Bassa-Kwomu and Igburra leaders to produce five representatives each to reconvene another meeting to find a lasting solution to the lingering communal clash in Bassa land.
