Umbrella body of Ebira people in Kogi State Ebira People’s Association on Tuesday sent a save our souls’ message to the Federal Government over a budding terrorist organisation: Islamic Brotherhood and other rising incidences of criminality in the central senatorial district of the state.
Addressing a press briefing in Abuja on security challenges in Kogi State, members of the association led by their President-General, Dr. Musa Adeiza lamented that kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals have taken over the entire area unleashing terror without any resistance from security agencies.
According to Adeiza, “people of the area now live in fear” as information at its disposal showed that the brooding Muslim Brotherhood will soon be hatched and domiciled in the state and so urged Federal Government to do much more than it is presently doing in securing lives and property.
He warned that with Kogi State having boundary with 11 states, which is a third of the federation, paying lip service to the deteriorating security situation in is dangerous because once blossoming, Kogi may be a more dangerous situation to contain than the North East.
“We’re under seize in Kogi Central. There no week that passes without hearing cases of robbery, murder, kidnapping and other crimes.
“This must be checked. Kogi is situated at the centre of this country and if these crimes are not tackled and allowed to spread, it’ll be difficult fighting them because the criminals melt into 11 states if it spreads.
“As we speak, criminals operate unhindered. Insurgency is brewing with the budding of the Muslim Brotherhood.
“We’re in grave danger. Everyone now lives in fear. Those outside the country are scared of coming home. Those transiting through our state are also scared of being kidnapped, murdered, and raped and so on.
“Most abductions are usually for ransom. Even when kidnappers have been paid, victims are still killed or kept under their watch. No abducted persons have been freed by the security operatives. There’s seems to be an unholy alliance between security agencies and kidnappers.
“Those who succeeded in regaining freedom either paid ransom or somehow managed to escape from captivity. So, there’s an urgent need for an urgent change of strategy and overhaul of the security apparatus in the face of worsening criminality.”
Decrying a situation whereby officers stay for over five years in the same post without transfer, Adeiza said such officers have “grown roots and thoroughly compromised”, warning “this is not good”.
He then advised that all security personnel currently serving in the Central Senatorial District should be immediately redeployed and replaced with fresh hands.
Also, there is need for intelligence driven security arrangement by interfacing with community leaders, ward heads, local vigilante groups, hunters and farmers.
“There should be coordinated tactical operation to smoke out criminal elements from their hideouts in homes, bushes, caves, hills etc.
The group also urged the Federal Government to complete the Ajaokuta Steel Complex as a strategy to reduce youth unemployment, which is partly responsible for the rising crimes.
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