Alhaji Ahmed Usman Oododo, the governor of Kogi state, has disapproved of individuals enforcing laws on their own.
This comes after a Fulani settler was allegedly killed last week in Kogi’s Isanlu Yagba East Local Government Area.
Kingsley Fanwo, the Information Commissioner, said in a statement released on Monday that the warning was given during a Saturday emergency security meeting in Lokoja.
“In a bid to restore peace and security in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has convened an emergency security meeting in Lokoja to address the indigenes of Isanlu and the Fulani settlers.” “Oh,” he said.
According to him the Governor summoned the emergency security meeting to listen to both sides in order to take actions that will guarantee peace and security. This is to forestall reprisal attacks that could put the community under threat.
He said that the meeting was successful as both parties subscribed to the Governor’s position that they should embrace peace.
Fanwo said the Governor had to cut short his brief journey to Abuja, where he was to receive an award, to return to the State to stem the “rising security temperatures in Isanlu”.
He said, “The Governor had a robust meeting with the people of Isanlu and the Fulanis yesterday in Government House, Lokoja where he listened to their grievances and addressed them accordingly.
“He frowned at a situation where people would take laws into their hands by killing fellow humans, saying such is not acceptable and that perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law.
“He has directed that some traditional rulers in the affected areas be properly interrogated in order to get to the root of the matter. He has also directed that a particular traditional ruler be suspended due to his role in the saga.”
Fanwo added that the Governor urged the leaders of the Isanlu community to warn their subjects to desist from actions that constitute insecurity in Yagba East and the entire Yagba Federal Constituency, urging them to fish out the criminal elements among them as his administration will go after every criminal in the state, regardless of tribe.
“The Governor, without mincing words, also challenged the leadership of the Isanlu community and its environs in Yagba East to sensitize their people on the need to stop constituting security threats in the area by taking the laws into their hands.
“He particularly told them to stop harboring criminals and to ensure that criminal elements among them are reported and handed over to law enforcement agencies in order to curb insecurity in the area,” he said.
According to the Commissioner, Governor Ododo promised to protect everyone living in the state, but stressed that no criminal would be spared.
The governor thanked the Fulanis in the region for their maturity, understanding, and dedication to peace and security, and praised them for avoiding the urge to launch a retaliatory attack in response to the regrettable tragedy.
Additionally, he thanked the Fulani community’s leadership in the State for their support of the administration’s security initiatives, stating that their efforts to uphold peace and security are well-documented and valued.
Top government officials, security agencies, local Fulani representatives, and community leaders attended the emergency security meeting.
Hon. Dare Joshua, the Local Government Area Chairman, commended the Governor for acting quickly to prevent a significant security breach in the Local Government Area.
