Gov Ododo convenes emergency meeting over alleged Fulani killing, vows punishment for perpetrators
In an effort to restore peace and security in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, Governor Ahmed Ododo has called for an emergency security meeting in Lokoja. The meeting was convened to address tensions between the indigenous people of Isanlu and Fulani settlers, following allegations that one of the Fulani was killed by members of the community.
The governor initiated the meeting to hear from both sides and take decisive action to ensure peace, aiming to prevent any potential reprisal attacks that could destabilize the area.
A statement released by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, on Monday confirmed that the emergency security meeting was successful. Both parties, the indigenous people of Isanlu and the Fulani settlers, agreed to the governor’s position that peace should be embraced and upheld for the wellbeing of the community.
Fanwo said the governor had to cut short his brief journey to Abuja, where he was to receive an award, to return to the State to stem the “rising security temperatures in Isanlu”.
He said, “The Governor had a robust meeting with the people of Isanlu and the Fulanis yesterday in Government House, Lokoja where he listened to their grievances and addressed them accordingly.
“He frowned at a situation where people would take laws into their hands by killing fellow humans, saying such is not acceptable and that perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law.
“He has directed that some traditional rulers in the affected areas be properly interrogated in order to get to the root of the matter. He has also directed that a particular traditional ruler be suspended due to his role in the saga.”
Fanwo added that the governor urged the leaders of the Isanlu community to warn their subjects to desist from actions that constitute insecurity in Yagba East and the entire Yagba Federal Constituency, urging them to fish out the criminal elements among them as his administration will go after every criminal in the state, regardless of tribe.
“The Governor, without mincing words, also challenged the leadership of the Isanlu community and its environs in Yagba East to sensitize their people on the need to stop constituting security threats in the area by taking the laws into their hands.
“He particularly told them to stop harbouring criminals and to ensure that criminal elements among them are reported and handed over to law enforcement agencies in order to curb insecurity in the area,” he said.
According to the commissioner, Governor Ododo promised to protect everyone living in the state but stressed that no criminal would be spared.
The governor commended the Fulanis in the area for resisting the temptation of launching a reprisal attack over the unfortunate incident, thanking them for demonstrating maturity, understanding and commitment to peace and security.
The Commissioner also expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Fulani community in the state for their ongoing support of the administration’s security initiatives, acknowledging that their contributions to maintaining peace and security have been well-documented and appreciated.
The emergency security meeting was attended by top government officials, security agencies, community leaders, and representatives of the Fulani community in the area.
Hon. Dare Joshua, the Chairman of the Local Government Area, thanked the Governor for his prompt intervention, which helped avert a potential major security crisis in the region.