He declared that efforts had since been activated to ensure the military, police, and other relevant security agencies were immediately mobilized to the affected areas to restore normalcy and fully contain the violence.
A statement issued on Wednesday morning by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Promise Emmanuel, stated that the governor who was represented by his deputy, Dr Edward Onoja, disclosed this while addressing journalists after an on-the-spot assessment of the affected communities in Oganenigu.
Describing the extrajudicial killings as satanic, governor Bello reassured of his administration’s commitment to hunting down profiteers of crimes whilst ensuring the security of lives and properties.
He added that despite the pockets of crime, Kogi State under his watch as governor remained unsafe for criminals desperate to plunge it into the pre-2015 era of insecurity in whatever guise, warning that such attempts would be strongly resisted.
Whilst commiserating with the families of the deceased, he once again advised the people not to take laws into their hands as concerted efforts were ongoing to rehabilitate victims of the attacks.
Chief Onoja conducted the assessment on behalf of governor Bello in the company of the State Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon Sunday Faleke, Commissioner for Information, Hon Kingsley Fanwo and State Security Adviser, Navy Comr Jerry Omodara (retd.).
Others are the State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Yusuf, State Commandant, NSCDC, Ahmed Gandi, Brigade Commander, Brigadier General N.J Edet and officials of the State Emergency Management Agency.
Consequently, an expanded meeting was held at the Ata Igala’s Palace in Idah with security heads, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN, Kogi and Nasarawa Chapters), Chairmen of Olamaboro, Igalamela, Idah, and Dekina LGAs, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders in attendance.The Atta was represented by the Ejeh Ibaji, Chief John Egwemi.
