Inquest into attacks on communities in Kogi State commences
One after another, parties with knowledge of how hedsmen attacks on communities in Kogi state took place have begun to present their side of the story to a panel of enquiry set up by the Kogi State Government.
The Panel's sitting began on Wednesday at the Chief Magistrate Court in Anyigba, Kogi State.
Residents of the communities and Senior security officers in charge of the area's testified on the first day of the committee's sitting with several graphic revelations were presented by members of the communities where the attacks took place with others mentioning names of those they recognized as having played a part in the attacks.
Even though the attacks were allegedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen, but the identities of some of those mentioned are not Fulani.
Few of them are their kinsmen and people they were used to doing businesses with.
The committee is being chaired by Justice Josiah Majebi.
The Panel of enquiry had kicked off its activities by visiting the communities where the attacks were alleged to have taken place where members had firsthand appreciation of the true state of the situation.
The visit, which took the Panel to Ojuwo – Ajumaegbi, a farm settlement bordering Bassa and Dekina Local Government Areas, Iyade – Awawa and Agbenema in Omala LGA, served as opportunity for the panel to inform members of the communities on its intention to commence its assignment and the need for them to be present to make necessary presentations that would assist the Panel in achieving the objectives of its constitution.
At the sitting which took place at the Chief Magistrate Court in Anyigba, the Chairman, Justice Majebi had reminded witnesses of the committee's terms of reference and urged them to be free to furnish it with necessary information.
Justice Majebi encouraged them not to leave out any details that would assist the committee, but cautioned the witnesses against making allegations they could not substantiate.
A member of the panel, Barrister I. O Alhassan called the witnesses to the stands, prior to which he had told the gathering of the legality of the committee's constitution.
He said the Judicial Enquiries Laws of Nigeria conferred powers on the Governor to set up such panel to investigate such civil disturbance.
The first witness to take the stand was the Divisional Police Officer for Dekina Local Government Area, Elya Clement, a DSP, who told the committee what he saw and what he has been able to gather in the course of his investigation into the Ojuwo Ajuomaegbi attack.
His findings on the matter was admitted in evidence as exhibit after which the panel told him to step down when they finished grilling him on his role when the news of the attack got to the police.
Next to give testimony was the Sector Commander, Sector 2 of the Nigerian Army, Major Aminu Pawa Uba, who admitted to the committee that he led his men into Ojuwo Ajuomaegbi immediately Army Headquarters in Lokoja recieved the news of the attack.
The team he led was code-named 913 Battalion, a code which he had to explain to the panel following questioning by the Chairman of the Panel for explanation on what the Army lingo meant.
Major Uba shed more on the submission earlier presented by the DPO, on the rationale behind the decision to bury casualties of the attack. He was also quick to express grattitude to members of Oganenigu community for the warmth with which his team was received.
The administrator of Dekina Local Government Area, Hon Ishaq Shaibu Okolo, who could not appear in person due to pressing official engagement, had a prepared testimony presented by his Protocol Officer, Aaron Wada.
Mr. Wada is also a resident of Ojuwo and a victim of the attack as his father was killed in the unfortunate incident.
He used the opportunity to present his own side of the story and was made to answer some questions put before him by members of the committee.
Other witnesses such as Ademu Akowe, Danladi Simon, Suleiman Yakubu and Sabo Akowe all residents of the community, appeared and gave testimonies on the attack and told the committee how it affected them.
They told sordid ordeals of how they sustained gunshot wounds, how their relatives were mowed down by the bullets of the marauders and how they had to suffer untold hardship in nearby bushes until they were rescued the following day by security agencies sent to contain the situation.
The witnesses also mentioned names of some individuals who they allegedly saw helping their attackers.
They appealed for government assistance for them to get their lives.
They specifically solicited for the presence of the security agencies in the community, provision of shelter and other essential necessities to get their lives back on track. Sitting continues on Thursday 17th of May, 2018.
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