A coalition of civil society networks, Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) has called on the state government and security agencies to nip the current spate of cult activities and motorcycle theft in Lokoja in the bud.
In the 1st Quarter 2022 report by KONGONET presented to journalists on 3rd April, 2022, by Idris Ozovehe Muraina and Mrs. Henry Hellen, Chairperson and Secretary respectively, the coalition called for effective and efficient synergy between Police, vigilante and hunters’ group.
KONGONET lamented that nefarious activities of cult groups in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, has led loss of lives and properties.
“As the apex civil society organizations (CSOs) Network in the state, our interest is to ensure that the wellbeing, lives and property of our citizens are protected at all times and we pursue this with vigour. The business of securing lives and property of citizens is the business of all, though legally coordinated by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
“The security situation in Lokoja the state capital has nosedived in recent time, arising from petty theft of motorcycles to cult related activities which has claimed many lives, others injured and many house and livelihood destroyed in the following communities – Old Market, Kpatan Koto, Rimi, Madabo and Angwan Kura respectively.
“It appears the number and spread of the police force is insufficient to police the state sufficiently, places like Kaduna junction and Zango with high inflow of migrants rarely feels the presence of the police force and in the case of an emergency, it might take quite a while before help comes.
“The activities of vigilante, hunters group and the Police force are not well coordinated; we recommend that the Nigeria Police Force provide them with the necessary guidance and training as they complement the security architecture in the state. These, however, are short term measures; an important long term recommendation to deal with insecurity is to begin the conversation on State and Local Policing,” the report said.
On the ravaging activities of cultists among teens, KONGONET commended the activities of the Lokoja First Advocacy Group headed by Mallam Umar Ali for their efforts at engaging the issue of cultism within Lokoja specifically.
While congratulating the newly deployed Commissioner of Police to Kogi State, Edward Egbuka, the coalition called on the commissioner to take charge of things and ensure the recent upsurge of kidnapping, cultism and other criminalities across the state is dealt with decisively.
KONGONET also called on the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) Leaders, Kogi State branch, to prevail on her members to revert to the old transportation fares to ease transport and movement of goods within the state capital in the light of the current economic challenges.
“We recommend that the state government with immediate effect consider reactivating intra-city transport scheme that will operate between Zango Daji Community through to Felele to ease the current price hike on transportation fares within the state capital.”
The coalition expressed delight that its consistent push for Kogi state government to sign-on to Open Government Partnership (OGP) has finally yielded results.
“We await national secretariat of Open Government Partnership (OGP) for stakeholders’ sensitization and the state formation of the required committee for the state OGP secretariat.
“We recommend that the state government should immediately appoint the required committee members and kick start the state Open Government Partnership (OGP) secretariat to create avenue for civil society organizations (CSOs) and citizens of Kogi state interact and document developmental strides of the government based on her social contract with citizen.”
