Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya BelloGovernor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has attributed the recent killings in the State Central Senatorial Area to the presence of the Boko Haram returnees, even as he expressed worry about utterances credited to the leadership of organised Labour in the state, suggesting that the killings were carried out by his government to silence the voice of Labour for opposing his government.
“Simply put, they have insinuated that this Government may have something to do with his death. They have also gone ahead to posit that their lives are not safe as Labour leaders.
“I am aghast at this manner of thinking. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the leadership of Labour knows this.”
Governor Yahaya Bello, in a statement he personally signed, reacting to what he called “triple murder” in Kogi Central Senatorial District, said: “over and beyond the general tight security measures we have always maintained all over Kogi State, we also paid closer attention to the Kogi Central Senatorial District in the provision of security infrastructure. This is because of known security challenges plaguing the the zone for many years now. The presence of Boko Haram returnees and other hardline elements is a particularly worrisome phenomenon.”
He regretted the killing of three persons in the District this week, listing the victims as Abdulganiyu Aduki, an artisan who was killed around 7:30pm on Tuesday, 31st October, 2017 at Nagazi in Adavi Local Government Area, adding that his wife and daughter were also shot during the incidence and are currently hospitalised due to their injuries.
There were also Mallam Abdulmumin Yaqub and his friend, Mallam Ibrahim Otaru, who were gunned down at Ozuwaya quarters in Bariki Ward of Okene Local Government Area around 7pmon Wednesday, 1st November, 2017.
The governor said that from the information available to him, the brazen manner in which these cruel killings were carried out indicates that they were premeditated assassinations executed for the express purpose of taking the lives of the deceased persons.
“There was also a clear intention to kill any hapless person who happens to be present at the time of the attack.”
He said that he had since directed the Police and other security agencies to track down the killers, adding that the law enforcement agencies are now on their trail “and I have put the full support of my Administration at their disposal. I promise Kogites that we will leave no stone unturned till we find and decisively put these cowardly criminals out of business in the manners prescribed by law.”
On the accusation by the labour leaders, Governor Yahaya Bello recalled that this is not the first time that Labour in Kogi State has capitalised on horrendous tragedies which befell some of our citizens to malign the Administration in the most malicious way.
According to him, in the last three weeks alone, they have been quick to lay three tragedies at the door of his government.
They were, he said, the suicide of a senior Civil Servant, the death of a family’s daughter from sickle cell anaemia disease and now the killing of Mallam Yaqub by yet unidentified assassins, saying that in all three instances, the true stories have surfaced a short while later contradicting their Labour in key details.
“Sadly, even when refuted, they have not been as quick to find the needed forthrightness to offer their regrets for accusing us falsely, or to apologise to the families they have hurt.
“Nevertheless, let me assure Labour leaders that they have nothing to fear. Government is not after them. I am not after them. On the contrary, Government remains responsible for the security of their lives and properties, along with those of all other citizens of this great state. It is a responsibility which even they know that we take very very seriously indeed.
“I therefore call on the Labour Leaders again today to be more circumspect with the sensational statements in the media, if for nothing else, to minimise the potential for fear and mischief mongering. As they ought to know, in our society these sort of unguarded comments should not be made by people like them who are leaders in their own rights.
“Let me put it on record again that my Administration has no choice but to work for the welfare of both our Civil Servants and our people as a whole. It is in fact the reason for which we were entrusted with this mandate, and why we are undertaking some difficult but necessary reforms across all sectors, including the public sector. Despite the unexpected resistance from some surprising quarters, the benefits of these reforms are also becoming evident to all objective persons with each passing day. Payment of salaries, which is the primary issue at stake now is being tackled head-on even as I speak. Non-payment should become a distant memory soon to Kogi State Civil Servants. Government is always ready to work together with willing partners to succeed in this regard.
“‘The world we are experiencing today is the result of our collective efforts, and if we want a new world, each of us must start taking responsibility for helping to create it.’ –Rosemary Rhea.
“In conclusion, Government calls for information from the general public which can help the law enforcement agencies speed up the arrest of those who killed these citizens. In addition, we hereby offer a reward of N1m to anyone who provides information leading to their capture. I urge anyone with useful information to call our Toll Free Security Hotline 0705 889 0048 immediately. Utmost confidentiality is guaranteed.”[myad]
