Insecurity: Stakeholders raise alarm over incessant kidnappings, killings in Kogi

From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja

Stakeholders in Yagba federal constituency have raised the alarm over the incessant kidnappings and killings in the area and called on the state government and security agencies to device a new strategy to stop the ugly trends.

The stakeholders  in a two day summit attended by community leaders, various leaders of political parties, religion organizations, students and youth groups deliberated extensively on the security situations and  political developments  of the three local governments areas of Yagba west, Yagba East and Mopamuro Local government areas that consist the Yagba federal constituency.

In a communique signed by the convener of the summit, Chief Olure Peter Olawale and  the secretary, Segun Arotiba , the summit advocated for a robust intelligence based techniques and the deployment of a special squad to tackle  the incessant kidnappings , herders’ – farmers clash and killings in the area

The forum under the auspices of Yagba Concerned Citizens’ Leadership, Security, and Political Summit therefore resolved that inorder to ensure a  peaceful co existence among the people of the three local government areas in the area, the porous borders of Niger, Kwara and Ekiti states adjoining the Yagba communities must be properly manned and monitored.

The communique reads in part: “We recommend   the establishment of liaison channels between Yagba communities and neighboring communities in Ekiti Kwara Local Government Area, Patigi Local Government Area in Kwara State, Ekiti North Local Government Area, Ikole Local Government Area and Niger state to curb the degenerating security situations “Promotion of the Yagba Traditional Council under the jurisdiction of Oba Yagba, which would rotate among the three chairmen of the Traditional Councils of the three Local Government Areas.

“Adoption of a zoning arrangement for the nomination of candidates for the House of Representatives to prevent monopolization of the position. ” Implementation of an educational program on zoning, power-sharing, rotation of power, and quota systems, as practiced at the federal and party levels.

” Call on Members of the House of Representatives from Yagba to regularly interact with their constituents and provide feedback on their activities. ” Call on the media and civil society organizations to assist in holding Yagba representatives accountable by scrutinizing and reporting their actions and performance.

” We urged for Continued advocacy for the granting of full and comprehensive autonomy to local government councils.

“We join in the persistent calls for the establishment of a Local Government Electoral Commission responsible for conducting elections, as opposed to the state-independent electoral commission”, among others.