From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has given seven days ultimatum to four councils Administrators and Traditional rulers in locations where a clash between herdsmen and farmers led to the death of 15 persons to fish out the perpetrators or risk losing their positions for ineptitude of duty.
Governor Bello who gave the order during a security stakeholders meeting held in Government House Lokoja on Monday, lamented that killings happened in Yagba west Omala , Dekina and Igalamela, adding that his administration will not condone killings of any citizen in the state.
While giving ultimatum to the Administrators of the four local government and their traditional rulers, Governor Bello vowed to apprehend and bring to book the perpetrators of the dastardly act, saying government will not allow the insecurity situation that occurred in Benue, Nasarawa and Zafara states to happen in Kogi .
He said the people have been leaving peacefully with the herdsmen, who are mostly Fulanis without any rancor, vowing that “any politicians or detractors who are behind this killing will be made to face the full wrath of the law as my administration will not spare any body no matter how highly placed in the society”
He commended the security agents for their effort in ensuring that there is absolute peace in the state, urging them to do more in order to keep the state safe.
The Administrator of Yagba West where the killings took place, Comrade Joseph Olutimi, stated that he received a report that a farmer was allegedly killed by Fulani herdsmen, noting that he quickly informed the security agents who swung into action.
He pointed out that the Fulanis were killed by yet to be identified gunmen in reprisal attack, stressing that the people of the local government have been living peacefully with the resident Fulanis.
In his speech the Special Adviser to the governor on security, Commodore Jerry Omadara reported that last week a farmer in Yagba west was allegedly murdered in his farm by suspected herdsmen, saying some people took the law into their hand in a reprisal attack and killed the Fulanis who resided in some communities in the local government and dumped their corpses in Omi dam.
He further disclosed that three corpses of Fulanis were found in Oluja community in Dekina local government while several cows was killed by unknown gunmen, stating that Omiyowo , Ogar, Ejigba and Dekina recorded high rate of killing innocent citizens.
The Secretary Meyetti Allah in charge of Yagba west Mohammed Mainasara said eleven Fulanis residents in the council were killed without provocation.
