Governorship: Kogi East under APC thugs’ siege, engages in night sporadic shootings, group petitions IGP for intervention

In what appears a total breakdown of law and order, Kogi East Senatorial District is under siege of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, thugs as they audaciously engaged in daily sporadic shootings to intimidate political opponents.

Reacting to this dangerous political development, a socio-cultural group, Ojuju Agbadufu Igala has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to quickly intervene before the situation got out of control in guise of politics. The group which is based in Kogi East, have been witnessing sporadic shooting at nights on a daily basis, stating that all the security commands in the State are aware of thugs activities without rising to the occasion, suspecting there was a compromise somewhere.

A copy of the petition which was signed by the President in Council, Christopher Ukwenya and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, and sent to CAPITAL POST on Saturday, the group said, “Idah, Ofu, Dekina and Ankpa LG Councils have been turned into a theatre of war by gun wielding APC thugs, a development that is causing residents sleepless nights.

The petition reads:

“Ojuju Agbadufu Igala is the umbrella Youth organization for the Igala people of Kogi State that have high regards for democratic institutions, appraisal and sustenance of democratic governance in Kogi State and have her principal operations for Kogi East.

“We have observed with anxiety the rising and alarming incidence of electoral violence in Kogi State particularly in the Eastern part of the State preparatory to the November 11 Governorship election in Kogi State. We noted that this is as a result of availability of guns and other dangerous weapons in the hands of civilians and unlawful people who willingly use it at will to cause mayhem to their fellows at many occasions.

“The violence, intimidation killings and destruction of properties in Kogi East in the just concluded general election suggest that we have a volatile security architecture in Kogi State that should be re-energized to stand up to their responsibilities.

“Apart from undermining the integrity of elections and the democratic process, the repeated failure of successive security heads to punish electoral violence has created a culture of impunity among politicians who persistently recruit and arm thugs to intimidate and kill members of political opponents, and citizens who are simply exercising their rights to participate in a democratic process of Choosing their own leaders.

“Our resolve to write to your office is the fact that you have shown commitments, neutrality and dedication to bringing perpetrators of social vices to book since you assumed office and this has reawakened our hope in the Nigeria Police to do justice at all times

“There is a recent upsurge of unmitigated violence in Kogi State particularly Kogi East as build up to November 11th governorship election in the state. People can no longer sleep in their houses with two eye closed as sporadic gunshots are heard all night

“There have been threats to people’s lives and tamper on their properties as people are being abducted and maimed, cars burned and houses destroyed almost on daily basis in Kogi State unchallenged

“This has happened mostly in Dekina local government, Idah local government, Ofu local government and Ankpa local government of Kogi State. This crime is believed to be carried out by the members of the ruling Party in the state

“So far, Eight (8) people have been killed in Kogi East. Of this number, four of them were killed in Dekina Local Government while another four were killed in Ofu Local Government. In Kogi West, One person was killed in Koto in Kogi Local Government of the state. In the same vein, several houses, cars and other properties have being set ablaze

“There have being several allegations of compromise on the side of the Kogi State police command, as they have allegedly being used as tools of intimidation by the Party in power to indiscriminately arrest opposition parties members in a bid to scare them away from coming out to vote their preferred candidate in the November election

“We wish to urge you as the Chief policing officer of Nigeria, to embark on mop-up of the arms and ammunitions in the hands of this civilians who are threatening the peace of this part of the state. This will help curtail future calamities of having crisis of kidnapping and other social vises in our hands because of the availability of this weapons

“You must rise up to the occasion and tame this ugly evil that has befalling us by using your good office to curtail the situation we are in presently.

“We are pleading your good office to task the police and other security agencies in Kogi State to be professional in their activities and stop making themselves available for use as tools of intimidation in the hands of politicians

“All the people are asking for is a conducive environment for them to come out and exercise their civic responsibility for their country and state. We believe the Nigeria Police under your leadership can provide this atmosphere and reassure the people of your commitment to Peace and justice.”