Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has directed four local administrators in the state to produce killers of 15 herdsmen within seven days or get sacked.
The governor, who issued the ultimatum to the local government chiefs during a stakeholders meeting on security held in Lokoja today, Tuesday, stressed that he will sack the administrators who he also accused of ineptitude and dereliction of duty.
The affected council bosses are the administrators of Yagba West local government where 11 of the herdsmen were killed between May 18 and May 20, Omala, Dekina and Igalamela local government councils where the remaining four herdsmen were killed.
The governor said that his administration would not condone killings of any citizen in the state under whatever guise.
He directed the administrators to work with their traditional rulers to unveil the perpetrators.
“These Fulanis have been staying with us in the state peacefully without any rancour, any politicians or detractors who are behind this killing will be made to face the full wrath of the law. “My administration will not spare anybody no matter how highly placed in the society.”
The administrator of Yagba West where the killing of 11 herdsmen took place, Joseph Olutimi, reportedly confirmed the development.
He said that the initial report he got was that a farmer was killed by herdsmen, saying that he quickly informed security agents of the development. Olutimi explained that the herdsmen were killed by yet to be identified persons.
According to him, the people of the local government had been living peacefully with the Fulani hersmen for years.
Commenting on the development, Governor Bello’s special adviser on security, Jerry Omadara, explained that the action was a reprisal attack on herdsmen for the death of a farmer few days ago.
He said that three corpses of herdsmen were found in Oluja community in Dekina local government while several cows were also killed by unknown gunmen.
The secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Yagba West local government, Mohammed Mainasara, said 11 of his members were killed, asking for justice in the matter.
Source: Daily Trust.
