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From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
Uneasy calm pervades Kogi State as gunmen suspected to be bandits kill, maim, unleash pains and horror on the people at will. So, many families now live in fear in the state.
In the last couple of days, it has been stories of killing of security operatives and kidnapping of innocent citizens. Yet, no arrest has been made in spite of the efforts of the state government and security agencies in the state.
The people of Kabba in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area were first jolted when one of their illustrious sons, Chief Augustine Aribido, a senior staff at Itakpe Iron Ore Company, was killed along the Okene- Kabba expressway by men suspected to be armed robbers or kidnappers.
It was reported that Aribido, was returning from a weekend at his country home and heading back to his station on Monday morning when he was stopped in his vehicle by the daredevil criminals. But before he could apply the brakes, bullets were said to have been pumped into him. And he died from the bullet wounds a few days to his retirement from service.
Again, on July 30, gunmen suspected to be bandits killed three police officers and five local vigilance group members in an an ambush as they were responding to a distress call in Ajaokuta LGA of the state.
It was learnt that the locals had reported at the divisional police headquarters that some people were using their farms for criminal activities. This development prompted the divisional police officer to immediately mobilise his men and some local vigilance members to the area.
Unknown to them, the hoodlums were waiting in ambush for them and opened fire on sighting the security agents, killing three police officers and five vigilance members on the spot while many others sustained injuries.
While residents of the town were still mourning the death of the security agents, another sad incident occured in the town as the family of Ayuba Kadiri, an Edo State-born electronics dealer, was thrown into confusion and trauma when gunmenabducted three children of the family.
The children, aged five, seven and 10, were said to have been kidnapped at about 8pm from their residence in Kaduna Estate, Ajaokuta Steel township complex, by about 10 gunmen.
It was learnt that the businessman, who was a dealer in televisions, radios, refrigerators, lamps and other electronic gadgets, was the target of the hoodlums but he was not at home when they stormed his residence.
However, the following morning, the hoodlums contacted the family and demanded a N100 million to free the children. A source hinted that it might be an inside job.
Two days later, gunmen waylaid a vehicle conveying workers of West Africa Ceramic Company, Ajaokuta, killing five of them instantly, while three were abducted
The workers included an Indian expatriate, two police escorts and two drivers of the company, who were said to have been ambushed while returning from work.
A resident of Ajaokuta, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said all the ceramic companies in the area have closed down temporarily, while the people in the community live in fear.
He said: “Here in Ajaokuta we can no longer sleep with our two eyes closed. There are lots of armed robbery and kidnapping incidents everywhere. Recently, we all saw how innocent policemen and vigilantes were killed. Things are already falling apart. No where is safe again and we don’t know where to run to.”
However, Governor Yahaya Bello moved swiftly as a result of the killing of three police officers and five vigilance group members and directed the suspension of the Ohi of Eganyi and chairman, Ajaokuta Traditional Area Council, Alhaji Musa Isah Achuja, with immediate effect.
In a letter to the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, the governor also directed that the chairman of Ajaokuta LGA, Mustapha Aka’aba, should be queried over the security breach and should reply within 24 hours.
The governor strongly warned other traditional rulers across the state who may have connections in one way or the other with criminal elements in their domains to desist, saying that his administration would deal ruthlessly with anybody who romances with criminals, no matter how highly placed they were.
In the same vein, Bello directed that all unofficial movements of the local government council chairmen out of their territory and other journeys without due process should be suspended
The governor warned that no amount of connivance with criminals would deter him from his fundamental responsibility of protecting life and property of the citizens and residents of the state.
At an emergency meeting with all the first class traditional rulers and security chiefs in the state, Bello also ordered the immediate closure of all brothels harbouring criminals and also banned the wearing of facemasks in public places, for proper identification.
The governor also ordered the removal and demolition of shanties in Lokoja, Osara, Zango, Itobe, Obajana, Okaba and many other locations in the state. He ordered the immediate removal of trailer parks within 30 metres on the right of way.
He urged the state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, local government chairmen, union leaders and security agencies to meet with tricycle and motorcycle riders for proper documentation.
Bello also urged all traditional rulers to guard their domain and ensure all the nooks and crannies of their areas were cleansed, noting that the land belonged to them and they should know who occupied every inch of it.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State commissioner of police, Edward Egbuka, has assured residents of the state that his men were on top of their game and urged them not to panic for any reason.
The police public relations officer, Willy Aya, who spoke with our correspondent on his behalf, said efforts were in top gear to arrest all the perpetrators of violence in the state, saying the CP has ordered the deployment of additional assets, consisting of operatives of the police mobile force, counterterrorism unit, quick response unit and state intelligence bureau, among others.
The CP pledged that the command was committed to working in synergy with other security agencies as well as patriotic stakeholders to make the state a safe and secure place for all and sundry.
