Following recent invasion by herdsmen and alleged Police brutality, leader of a socio-cultural group, Network of Igala Associations (NIA), Ojile Ibrahim on Wednesday called on the Kogi State government to urgently intervene in lingering crisis in the state.
The group asked the state government to set up judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the remote cause of crisis, stressing that Igala community in the state was facing tough time due to increasing attacks and all forms of insecurity on the people.
According to Ibrahim, who visited The Nation office in Abuja, the invasion was caused by false allegation made by the herdsmen against Umomi community, claiming to have killed two cows belonging to the herdsmen.
His words: “Recently, the Fulani people made a false allegation on the people of Umomi community, that two of their cows were killed by the people. Mild trouble started over the allegation which the community termed it spurious, baseless and ploy for the Fulani to foment trouble in the area.
“In a heated argument, the Fulanis ran to the police to make complaint over the matter. A team of policemen were detailed to the scene of the trouble area with the hope of the community to address the matter amicably.
“However, to the surprise of the community, the police came and started using force for mass arrest which did not go down well with the people and riot broke out. People started running for their dear life and eventually two men were killed as a result of police shooting and brutality.”
However, Ibrahim called for timely intervention and alleged injustice meted at the people. “NIA is challenging the government of Kogi state through the attorney general and the commissioner of justice of Kogi state, to set up a high powered judicial panel of Inquiry to investigate the remote causes and bring to justice the perpetuators of the dastardly acts.
“In the same vein, the local government councils and the Kogi state government, should take proactive measure to nip in the bud, this act of terrorism by the Fulani’s before it degenerate into what looked like the cases of herdsmen attack at Agatu in Benue State, Part of Enugu states and other states, just to mention a few,” he added.
Credits: Olugbenga Adanikin | Titilope Fadare | The Nation
