Kogi Killings: Gov Bello Vows To Deal With Culprits

Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, yesterday received the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into civil disturbances in Dekina, Omala and Bassa Local Government Areas, vowing that his administration will bring perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.

Receiving the report from the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Josiah Majebi, the governor promised to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents of the State adding that his administration would not play politics with the lives of the people.

The governor emphasized that he is ready to hunt and bring to book those responsible for the mayhem.

“We will hunt you down, we will come after you, you may be able to run but you cannot hide, we will smoke you out and ensure justice is done. We won’t play politics with the lives of the people. We must ensure those affected gets justice”, he said.

Earlier,  the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Josiah Mejabi, said it identified 115 persons believed to be responsible for the recent bloody clashes in Dekina, Omala and Bassa Local Government Areas of the State.

He also said that the violent crises that occurred in Oganenigwu, Iyade, Ojuwo Ajimadi, Agbenema-Ife and Agabifor in Dekina and Omala Local Government Areas were engendered by feud between herdsmen and farmers. Mejabi said that the commission was able to establish those during its visits and public hearings into the crises. He urged government to prevail on the warring factions to maintain peace pending the time it would issue a white paper on the report.

The commission also advised government to assist victims of the violent clashes in all the affected communities to enable them to start life afresh.