By Musa Tanimu Nasidi
The Kogi State Police Command has arrested a suspect in connection with the alleged illegal purchase of the old Lokoja Reservoir located in the Karaworo area of Lokoja.
The reservoir, which served the Lokoja metropolis for over 59 years, is said to have been sold to a private individual under circumstances currently being investigated by the authorities.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Yahaya Farouk, told journalists that efforts by the ministry to identify the buyer through official records were unsuccessful.
“We made efforts to obtain documents that could reveal the identity of the buyer, but all attempts failed. I was informed today that a caterpillar was working at the site, where pipes had been destroyed and the land cleared,” he said.
Farouk said the ministry promptly reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of a suspect.
“An arrest has been made. Through the suspect, we hope to identify both the buyer and whoever sold the property,” he added.
When our correspondent visited the site, heavy clearing activities were evident, with several water pipes damaged.
An agent of the alleged buyer, identified simply as Adimami, claimed that the property was purchased with valid documents. However, he declined to disclose the identities of either the buyer or the seller.
The agent was later taken away by police officers for questioning.
The old Lokoja Reservoir was constructed in the early 1960s and served as one of the major sources of water supply to Lokoja before the creation of Kogi State.
An elderly resident who spoke at the site expressed concern over the development, describing the reservoir as a valuable public asset that had served generations of residents.
Police authorities were yet to issue an official statement on the matter as investigations continued at the time of filing this report.
