Kidnapping: Ebira association raises the alarm over infiltration of foreigners

The Ebira Peoples Association (EPA) has tasked security agencies over what it called the infiltration of  Kogi State, especially worship centres, by foreigners.

National president of the association, Dr Adeiza Abdulrahman, said this at a news conference on the spate of kidnappings and other crimes in the state.

Abdulrahman also called on the Federal Government to urgently address the issue and other acts of insecurity such as kidnapping, robbery and terrorism in Ebira land and Kogi State as a whole.

”We recently noticed the presence of many foreigners in a number of worship centres in our land and we have genuine concerns about their intentions and activities which could be targeted at indoctrinating unsuspecting residents.

“They are usually seen with children and teenagers. We humbly request for these foreigners to be investigated,

“The first thing is to determine the validity of their presence in the country, and, if found to have valid papers, then they should be placed under surveillance to keep track of their activities,” he said.

Abdulrahman also urged the Minister of Interior,  Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), who was at the press conference, to ensure the redeployment of some security agents that had stayed long in the area for efficiency.

He pledged the cooperation of the communities in the state in volunteering relevant information to security agencies in order to rid the state of criminality.

The minister, on his part, assured the association of support, especially based on to the strategic importance of the state in the country.

“The issue of security is of great importance as far as Kogi State is concerned.

“We are not unaware that Governor Yahaya Bello is doing what he can to rid the state of these problems but we know that those challenges are there and we are focusing our attention there.

“We are doing the much we can to ensure that the lives of the citizens are protected,” Dambazau said.

He said the Federal Government would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure peace and stability across the country.