As a fall-out from the recent attack on their communities by Fulani herdsmen, local government authorities in the three local government areas in Okun area of Kogi State have concluded plans to establish a joint security force for the patrol of the communities to ensure the protection of lives and property of their people.
Funso Daniyan, chairman of Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State, told Independent on Monday that the affected local government areas were already working on how to make their communities safe.
He said members of the local vigilante had already been deployed in various wards in the local government to beef up security and ensure safety of the people.
The affected local government areas are Mopamuro, Yagba West and Yagba East.
He said: “The chairmen of the three contiguous local government areas, Mopamuro, Yagba East and Yagba West are talking and we are trying to put up a mechanism that will cover the three local government but we cannot put the details in public domain”.
According to him, the move became necessary following the latest attacks on Aiyede and Amuro by Fulani herdsmen, who allegedly killed a former councilor and a nursing mother.
Daniyan said the local vigilante in the local government areas had also been reinforced to ensure that the people are adequately protected.
The local government boss also said he had met with traditional rulers in the area to sensitise them on the need to talk to their subjects to support the move being made to ensure security of lives.
He said: “In the last few weeks we have had an upsurge in the incidences of attack by Fulani herdsmen coming into the local government, maiming and killing. This is a situation that is a bit difficult to control because these people are wanderers, the one that are creating havoc are not the traditional herdsmen that herd cattle in the local government, they come from outside.
“The ones that killed the former councilor are even suspected to be displaced terrorists from outside because in the area where they shot the man there was no sign of cow hues to show that they are herding cattle, but when you see their footprints you will know they are a group of people.”
Credit: Independent
