Heads of Fulani villages in Kogi have called for unity and peaceful coexistence among residents of the state.

Malam Dawda Abdullahi, Chairman, Kogi Council of Fulani Ardo (Village heads), made the call shortly after the election of the State Executive Council of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), on Sunday in Lokoja.

The election saw the emergence of Malam Usman Babangida as State Chairman of the body.

Abdullahi explained that the call became imperative in view of the devastating effects of disunity and hostility to one another.

“Fulani people desire peace which is why we admonish our members to continue to live in peace with all other residents of the state.

“This is necessary because no meaningful development can take place without unity and peace.

“I am urging all Fulani people to shun acts that are inimical to peace. No one should take the law into his hands,” he said.

He said that with the nomination and endorsement of Babangida as MACBAN chairman, “the state executive council under the leadership of Mallam Yusuf Damina stands dissolved as its tenure has expired”.

According to him, the leaders, after much deliberations, agreed to adopt a consensus candidate for the position of state Chairman of MACBAN, hence the adoption of Babangida.

He said the adoption was to ensure peace among the rank and file of the Fulani community in Kogi, and described Babangida as youthful, vibrant, educated, well experienced and a cool headed person.

While congratulating Gov. Usman Ododo on his 100 days in office, Abdullahi appealed to him to treat Fulani people in the state fairly, like any other tribe.

Speaking to newsmen after his endorsement, Babangida thanked the Fulani leaders for finding him worthy to lead them, and pledged to serve with all his God-given wisdom and knowledge.

“I have promised to serve the Fulani people faithfully. I hope to keep that promise,” he said (NAN)

The Police Command in Kaduna State said its operatives have killed two suspected bandits allegedly terrorising residents and recovered two AK-47 rifles from them.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Kaduna on Sunday.

Hassan said, “On Saturday at about 0900 hours, armed bandits tragically killed Isiyaka Mikailu, a 60-year-old male resident of Kuriga Town, while he was on his farm.

He said that information was received from a reliable source by the Mobile Police Unit commander deployed to Kuriga on special duty by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, during his visit to kaduna, after the Kuriga Village school children where abducted by bandits.

He said a team of Mobile Policemen and local hunters were mobilised at about 1200hrs to proceed to the scene.

“Upon arrival, the team was  engaged in a gun battle by the  bandits.

“During the confrontation, two  bandits, who were later identified as Yusuf from Rugar Mai Chakun of Kuriga Village and an unidentified accomplice, were neutralised,” he said.

According to him, the team successfully recovered two AK-47 rifles and seventeen rounds of live ammunition.

He further said that the police team took Mikailu to PHC Kuriga, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

“His remains were subsequently handed over to his relatives for burial in accordance with Islamic rites,” Hassan said.

He said the team remained on high alert to prevent any further incidences.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ali Dabigi, urged the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police. (NAN)

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Kogi State government under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is rising to the challenge of defeating the torrent of criminality since assumption of office.

Commissioner of Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo in a statement made available to Journalists at the weekend, noted that  the torrent of attacks on insurgents, bandits and kidnappers in the North East has dislodged them and many of them are now trying to find their feet in the North Central but the Kogi State Government is deploying an iron-cast approach to safeguarding the state from the fangs of criminals.

The commissioner also noted that with the rescue of  21  out of the 24 Custech students kidnapped last week so far,  it’s a clear proof that Kogi will be ruthless against criminals in the State.

According to the Commissioner “This morning, we also received the heart-warming report of the rescue of the Yagba West woman that was kidnapped and another woman from Yagba East Local Government Area. We are still searching frantically for the 3 remaining students yet to be rescued as every Kogite’s life is important to the government. We have also secured the release of scores of kidnapped victims who are not even Kogites but who were kidnapped in their various states and taken to the forests.

“The Governor also has approved the immediate employment of thousands of local hunters across the 21 Local Government Areas, with the immediate task of going after the criminals and taking the fight to their camps and hideouts, which is already yielding positive results.

” Also, the Joint Forces of the Army, Police, DSS, NSCDC, Metropolitan Response Squad and Hunters Group are currently carrying out simultaneous operations in Lokoja as well as across the three Senatorial Districts, including our border communities.

” Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has silently declared war on criminals in the state and deployed resources and forces to ensure the enemies of our people are defeated. The Governor expresses profound gratitude to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for his support and encouragement to make Kogi a crime free state.

“We want to assure our people that the Government is working hard to protect everyone and that the criminals are learning in a hard way that Kogi won’t be a ground for their criminal trade. The criminals are rattled and they won’t escape justice.

” As the Government puts everything into winning this war against criminality, we urge the citizens to play their part by volunteering intelligence to security agencies for the effective security of our dear State.”