A socio-political organisation, Yagba Action Group (YAG), has made a passionate appeal to President Bola Tinubu, to urgently intervene in the incessant attacks, killings and kidnappings that have become the order of the day in Yagba area of Okunland of Kogi State.
The pressure group of professionals based in Kogi State, made the appeal on Sunday , in a statement issued by the leadership of the group in which it also called on the governor, Usman Ododo, and all the security agencies, to pay a special attention and focus on Yagba axis of Kogi West Senatorial District, the area otherwise known for peace but now turned to an epicentre of banditry and kidnapping by criminals on daily basis.
The group’s position is coming on the heels of last Friday’s murder of two young men in Ogbe, Yagba West Council by men identified as Fulanis.
A spokesperson of the Local Hunters had reported the ambush and brutal killings of two people around the general area of Oyi River before ascending Ogbe Town, Friday.
YAG noted with concern that the surge in criminal activities in the area calls for immediate action by the state government and federal security agencies to prevent escalation.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Dickson Adeyanju, the group recalled that “Ogbe, the location of the latest killings is a border town to Koro, Kwara State where a monarch and a retired Army General, Segun Aremu was murdered in February, this year. Last Tuesday, kidnappers, numbering about 10, dressed in black and identified as Fulani invaded Ejiba Central Market, where two residents were abducted, including a prominent businesswoman. In January this year, more than six people were kidnapped within 48 hours around Isanlu, headquarters of Yagba East Council. Three people lost their lives between Idofin and Isanlu in an attempt to escape from the kidnappers.
“YAG commends Governor Ododo on his efforts in making lives and property safe in the state, including the donation of 120 vehicles and 44 motorcycles to boost community policing initiatives in all 21 Local Government Areas of the state. We are using this medium to appeal to the IGP, and the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS) working with authorities in Kogi State to rise to the occasion and curb the spate of kidnapping and banditry in Yagbaland.
“YAG condemns the current attacks, annihilation, and kidnapping of our citizens, especially the event in Ogbe, Yagba West, as reported at the weekend. Allowing this barbaric act to fester will automatically turn our area known for peace into the epicentre of banditry and kidnapping. We align ourselves with calls by other prominent Okun groups and the political leadership on the Federal Government to act on these terrible acts against our people. Our sincere sympathy also goes to our Ogbe people, who are mostly affected by this latest act against Yagba people”
