Kogi govt alleges conspiracy as bandits harvest arms

Gunmen have killed an All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain in Otukpo Local Council of Benue State, Ejeh Udeh.

The incident, according to an eyewitness account, occurred at midnight at Ugboju, Otukpo council area.

A native, who identified himself simply as Sunny, told newsmen that the suspected killers rode in a motorcycle and positioned themselves within the deceased’s compound.

He said: “As soon as the man drove in that late hour, the people shot him at close range several times and ensured that he was breathless before they zoomed off.”

When contacted, the Chairman of Otukpo council area, Maxwell Ogiri, who confirmed the assassination, added that security operatives had commenced an investigation to unravel the killers.

“We don’t know the reason for his murder. But we can only say that his murderers
were determined; they followed him to his house after he came back from a hangout with some friends and associates.

“He entered his house alone, parked his car, and the gunmen went to his house, and they began to fire from a distance, got closer to him and then finished him off,” he explained.

Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, for comments were futile, as she did not take her calls at press time.

Also, the District Head of Birbyang in Birbyang Ward of Kantana Area of Plateau
State, Zubairu Usman Garba, has been abducted by gunmen. 

The abduction took place a week after the village head of Shuwaka in Kyaram
District, Garga Area, was killed by kidnappers after the payment of millions in
ransom.

Confirming the incidents in a statement in Jos yesterday, a community leader, Tarus Salim Dugub, stated that the people of Jhar chiefdom were under siege.

This is even as the Kogi State government has alleged conspiracy in the recurring killings in the West Senatorial District.

Speaking at the palace of Egbe, on the renewed violence in Okun land, Security Adviser to the Governor, Jerry Omadara, confirmed efforts by the state government to diligently fight the insecurity in Kogi West.

According to him, intelligence at their disposal indicated that some youths of Okun land were supplying weapons and foodstuffs to the bandits in the forests.

He stated that about six or seven Okun youths were already in his black book for being on the payroll of hoodlums, assuring that since some of the youngsters have connections with bandits, the government would not hesitate to treat them alike.

The governor’s aide claimed: “Regrettable, the bandits are now operating with the indigenes of Okunland. The bandits have gotten our women selling soft drinks, bread and other food items. The women supplied them with food items and vital information.
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“There are people in Yagba West who paid the bandits money so that they don’t kidnap them. We will expose such people at the appropriate time because enough is enough.
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“Our youths are already involved; they used their motorcycles to supply them with weapons and ammunition in the bush. The women of these bandits brought ammunition from the far North and gave our youth peanuts to convey the ammunition to their men in the bush of Okun land, which they used to terrorise our people.
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“Imagine, Okun women becoming girlfriends to bandits. Again, our Okun people are becoming too lazy to the extent that it is the Fulani who farm okro, pepper, and maize for us and this is an aberration.”

The development came against the background that the bandits may have devised means of procuring AK-47 rifles and ammunition by disarming policemen.
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The Guardian checks revealed that in the last week, unidentified gunmen have harvested about 10 AK-47 rifles from policemen on patrol in rural areas of Yagba East and Yagba West Local Councils.
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It had been reported that last Sunday alone, suspected bandits killed five policemen and took their arms and ammunition.
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Local sources said as early as 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 21, a number of armed bandits ambushed officers of the Isanlu Area Police Command while on patrol at Ilafin-Odogbe Road in Yagba East council area, killing three personnel in the process, and eventually stole their firearms.
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On the same day at about 11:30 a.m., a group of bandits also waylaid men of the 37 Mobile Police Force attached to Abugi community, and killed two police inspectors. The assailants, thereafter, made away with their two AK-47 rifles loaded with at least 30 rounds of ammunition.
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Last week, five security agents, comprising three policemen and two vigilantes, were attacked and killed in separate ambushes and had their arms stolen.
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It was gathered that in the Sunday killings, a civilian passerby, named Isah Gilad, was hit by stray bullets. He was among the victims evacuated by the police, and their bodies were deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, for autopsy.
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The Guardian learnt that the state police command is on the trail of the rampaging bandits with a view to bringing them to justice.

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As part of efforts to restore sanity in Yagba communities of Kogi West, the Chairman of Kabba/Bunu council area, Zacchaeus Dare Michael, had imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the local council.

A statement signed by the chairman and issued yesterday in Lokoja indicated that restriction of persons and vehicles will be lasting between 6 pm and 8 am daily
until further notice.