Igala security, Government Neglecting us

INSECURITY IN IGALALAND: AN OPEN LETTER TO
MR. PRESIDENT
We wish to call your urgent and immediate
attention to the current spate of crime, killings
and mayhem in Igala land. The hit squad has a
tripod of FULANI HERDSMEN, KIDNAPPERS and
MURDEROUS THUGS as anchors.
TRIPOD 1: MENACE OF HERDSMEN:
Until very recently, the Igala people and Fulani
herdsmen lived peaceably but gone seems to be
those days following the multiple acts of war and
mayhem being unleashed daily on innocent
farmers and law-abiding citizens in their villages,
homes and farm lands.
For instance within the space of Mid-2015 to
now, Igala land has witnessed several incidences
of killings as a result of herdsmen violence in
several areas including Ebeje where 8 people
were killed and farms set ablaze, Agbada/Agojeju
where 19 people were slaughtered, Edede – 2
persons were killed, 6 people killed in Oganenigu,
3 people killed in Ojapata, 5 people killed in
Ojuwo Anawo. All these happened in Dekina
Local Government Area.
The story is not different in Ofu local government
area at Ojuwo Omachi and Akpagidigbo where
the incessant attacks of herdsmen have claimed
the lives of over 20 persons.
In Abejukolo and Bagana in Omala Local
Government Area, the reign of terror resonates
loudly, so much that our people no longer move
freely to and from their farm lands because of
the fear of killings, maiming and rape, with some
villages like Ebakume wholly sacked and entire
farm produce granaries/silos completely burnt.
These heavily armed cattle rearers keep flaunting
their prowess in the handling of AK 47 rifles and
double barrel guns.
Our fathers lived peacefully and harmoniously
with the Fulani herdsmen for several generations
when all they carried was just their wooden-rod.
Their current behaviour and disposition are thus
very strange to the people of the land. There is
therefore need to curtail their new penchant for
impunity which is obviously been fuelled by
horrible killer machines they now brandish in the
likes of AK47 and other types of dangerous rifles/
weapons.
TRIPOD 2: KIDNAPPING
Incidences of kidnapping in Igala land has
become nightmarish, the height of which is the
new trend in the kidnap of foreigners.
A Chinese woman - LILLY YUNPIN was
kidnapped at Etutekpe in Dekina local
Government Area, until a ransom was paid
recently. This is a clear negation of the stance of
the Government on security and free business
environment for foreigners.
Kogi is known to be the largest producer of
cashew nuts in Nigeria today and thus attracts
an influx of export merchants. This development
obviously has effect on the non-oil FX earnings
of the country as long as the business
environment fails to guarantee the security of
exporters seeking to purchase from farm- gates
that are considered unsafe.
Again, Just last week, Dr. Barnabas, a Medical
Doctor at the Kogi State University, Anyigba in
Dekina Local Government Area was kidnapped
and ransom had to be paid for his release.
The serial kidnap of locals working in the local
government offices and others in their respective
businesses have become too numerous to list.
TRIPOD 3: KILLER THUGS
Cold blooded murder and assassination of
innocent citizens have become the order of the
day in Igala land. The land is yet to recover
from the gruesome murder of Chief ISA EDIME,
the Producer of the popular 2nd republic radio
programme “Democracy in action” and retired
Director of the Federal Radio Corporation of
Nigeria (FRCN) who was brazenly murdered in
broad day light in his residence at Egume in
Dekina LGA by yet to be identified gunmen.
Very recently, Idah, the traditional seat of the
Igala kingdom was visited by an orgy of
unprecedented exchange of gunfire which
happened for two straight days (April 24th –
25th 2016, ) and left 13 people dead.
Chief Simon Shaibu, the district head of Ejule, in
Ofu LGA was killed in similar manner on Saturday
April 30 2016. In an open display of firearms, the
District Head was directly shot at in his
residence in a brigandage that left everybody in
terror, despair and wondering who would be the
next victim.
UFEDO FOUNDATION on behalf of Igala sons
and daughters condemns the impunity, surge in
violence and brazen display of military weapons
that is now reigning in Igala land. The
phenomenal level of blindness being feigned in
what seems like a conspiracy of silence by
Government at all levels is also condemnable .
Governments at all levels have remained quiet,
while fears of continuing killing is causing
despair, terror and paralysis in commerce,
economic and social activities. Igala sons and
daughters in this escalated level of insecurity
can’t even risk home travels anymore, the
farmers cannot continue farming activities
because of the fear of either killer-herdsmen
brandishing AK 47 rifles or violent cult groups
parading dangerous weapons. Exportation of
cash crops from Igala land is now at a great
mercantile risk including cashew nuts, sesame
seeds etc.
The people cannot continue to live under this
terror any further and hence demand that the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria act
immediately AND NOW. We demand a halt to
this reign of terror in Igala land.
Mr President, We observe further that law
enforcement agencies as presently located in the
land are obviously too sparse to provide the
required security cover for the entire land. We
wish you could for a moment imagine that the
entire geography of the then Igala Native
Authority is still having only one Area Police
Command covering 9 local governments.
The Igala Native Authority as you very well know
was second only to Kano N.A in the old Northern
Nigeria in terms of economy and commerce. The
Igala ethno-nationality which is reputed to be
the 9th largest tribe in Nigeria is yet to have any
form of military or functional Mobile Police
Formation.
Mr President Sir, this gaping absence of security
formations and units in Igala land has continued
to fuel impunity and security breaches.
Igala land did not bargain for this bloodletting in
the change regime we all contributed in
entrenching. We therefore demand reinforced
security presence in Igala land to deal with the
terror been perpetrated by criminals, murderous
thugs and kidnappers in the land.
The desire of Igala land has always been peace
and an environment devoid of rancour. Strong
police presence and other security apparatus
which are currently non-existent if provided, will
create adequate institutional framework for
dealing with all these crimes as well as
deployment of preventive strategies.
Additionally we demand a full scale
investigation of all these killings with a view to
finding lasting solutions as no one seems to be
attending to them under any serious order, while
the families keep asking for justice.
The time to commence full scale investigation
into these killings and curtail the resultant
criminal activities from these dastardly acts of
kidnapping and blood shedding and herdsmen
violence IS NOW.
As the President and Commander-in-Chief of all
the armed forces, it is within your powers to do
and/or direct all these prayers to be answered,
hence this letter to you at this very auspicious
time, when a replacement for late Barr James
Ocholi (SAN) at the Federal Executive Council is
yet to be named, Kogi-East Senatorial election
remains inconclusive, the Kogi state caucus in
the House of Representatives is seemingly
overwhelmed by these happenings at home and
the Kogi House of Assembly remains shut.
We therefore urge your Excellency to take
immediate action and save Igala land from
further descent into a state of anarchy.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria
God bless the President
God bless Kogi state
God bless Igala land