Hundreds of people, who were displaced in the face-off between Fulani herdsmen and Agatu indigenes of Benue State, are taking refuge in some communities in Kogi State.
Kogi State Governor Idris Wada spoke on the development yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, at a meeting with the chairmen of the 21 local governments.
He said the displaced persons, including women and children, took refuge in Bagana, Abejukolo and six other communities in Omala Local Government.
According to him, the influx of people from Benue to Kogi is an indication that the government and the council chairmen must be on red alert.
The governor told the council chairmen to take “full control” of the security in their local governments and report any untoward development to his office. Wada said the police and the State Security Service (SSS) had been alerted on the dangers posed by the development and had directed them to take appropriate security measures.
The governor later held a closed-door meeting with the council chairmen on security and other matters.
The Chairman of Omala Local Government, Alhaji Labaran Agbaka, expressed concerns over the influx of Agatus from Benue into his local government.
He urged the Federal Government to respond to the humanitarian challenge posed by the development.
Oigebe, who explained that the number of refugees had been on the increase, also expressed concerns over the outbreak of diseases, such as cholera and Lassa fever.
