- Kogi Assembly Speaker tours affected areas with Lokoja LG Chair
By Mohammed Yabagi
Peace is gradually returning to communities in the hinterlands of Lokoja Local Government of Kogi State as remnants of bandits and kidnappers that have infiltrated the area face bombardment and relentless attacks from Security forces deployed to the area by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Saturday’s visit to the area by our correspondent shows many Fulani women and some of the youths whose enclaves and makeshift homes are in the forests of the area fleeing with their belongings on their backs.
They told our correspondent that their places of residence are being attacked with heavy artillery shots regularly in the ongoing efforts of security agencies to fish out bandits and kidnappers.
Even though some members of the communities are still in captivity with their fates unknown, many residents have expressed optimism and applauded the government’s response to their plight.
Visits to Atsawa, Budon, Buge and surrounding communities, indicate that residents and indigenes are excited about a possible return to normalcy of the people whose major enterprise is farming.
Abdulsalam Kadiri, an indigene of the Atsawa Community, told our reporter that the area had never witnessed anything like kidnapping or banditry since its existence and said it contributed to frightening many who have fled their ancestral homes for fear of being victims.
“Before now, we lived peaceful, communal lives and did not care about any other thing than our business of farming and trade. We lived in peace with everyone, irrespective of who they were or where they came from. Of course, we also played host to many Fulani people who were like families to us because we grew up seeing many of them mingling with our older ones with whom they had lived peacefully. We also allocate lands for some of them to farm and rare their cattle.
“But this turn of events, where our brothers are being kidnapped for ransom, is something totally alien to us. So, we are happy because with this security campaign, which is taking the fight to the kidnappers, we are beginning to have the confidence to return to our farms and assurance that normalcy will soon fully return to our villages and the people will go about their businesses again.”
Other respondents shared the same thought and thanked Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo for his proactive steps to restore peace and order in the area.
The Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf, who represents the area as his state constituency and was on tour of the affected communities also urged the people of Lokoja to return to their homes and continue with their farming activities as normalcy has returned following the ongoing onslaught by the security agencies.
He stated this while addressing the people of the area during his tour of communities within the constituency.
The Speaker, who was accompanied on the visit by the Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area, Comrade Abdullahi Adamu, noted that the strangers who have decided to bring insecurity to the area are being completely decimated on the instructions of the State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
He said the Governor had shown his commitment to protecting the lives and property of the people of Kogi State, noting that no stone is being left unturned to ensure the success of the current security offensive that is chasing away kidnappers and other undesirable elements within the area and across the state.
The Local Government Chairman, who also echoed the position, thanked the State Governor for his commitment towards ending all forms of insecurity in the council and the state in general.
Traditional rulers and other stakeholders across the area, who were visibly elated to receive the high-profile delegation, which included men of the Nigerian Army, expressed gratitude to Governor Ododo for his proactive steps towards ending the security challenges they face in their communities.
