Kogi attacks inquest continues in Lokoja after three days Anyigba session
The judicial commission of enquiry into disturbing attacks on communities in Kogi State has, in continuation of its assignment, continued its sitting at the magistrate court in Lokoja, the state capital.
This follows a three days sitting it held at the state magistrate court in Anyigba from Wednesday the 16th to Friday, the 18th of May, 2018.
The Lokoja sitting would see the commission hear testimonies from the rest of witnesses that it was not able to entertain in Anyigba and others from Bassa Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, on the third day of its Anyigba sittin, the commission heard from witnesses from Oganenigu in Dekina Local Government Area and Iyade in Omala Local Government Area who the commission could not hear at its sittings the two previous days.
First to present his testimony on that day was a resident of Iyade, Okpanachi Sadauna who told the commission how suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked and killed three individuals within the hamlets that make up the community.
He also said though the incident was reported to the police who mobilised its men, no arrest was made and that their invaders returned on the third day to burn down more than one hundred houses, including his family house.
Sadauna admitted, following questioning, that he got to know they were herders because he had heard them speak in the cause of the attack, and that he heard them clearly speaking Fulani language.
He said they were in their hundreds as they overran the people.
The madaki of Iyade, Bakwo Salifu also gave testimonies to the commission and corroborated the accounts given by Sadauna.
The traditional ruler in charge of Iyade, Bala Opaluwa also gave testimony on the matter on the final day of the commission's sitting in Anyigba and gave the same account of the incident as the rest witnesses.
Abuh Awodi, the Gago of Agabifor, a community just few kilometers away from Agbenema also presented the account of how the attacks on his community by suspected herders took place on the 19th of March, 2018.
He said the invaders ended up killing scores and setting several houses alight.
Also, the Gago and the Madaki of Oganenigu, Yakubu Yusuf and Yakubu Musa both gave testimonies concerning attacks on their communities by suspected Fulani herdsmen which resulted in the killing of some of their kinsmen and burning down of some houses.
Speaking after the sitting, the chairman of the commission, Justice Josiah Mejibi lauded the efforts of his commissioners towards the success of the inquest.
He praised them for their sacrifices and genuine love for the state, which he said would help the state in achieving a lasting peace and forestall the reoccurence of attacks of that nature on communities in the state.
On his part, a commissioner with the commission, Abdulkareem Abdulmalik praised Governor Yahaya Bello in setting up of such body for the first time despite the reoccurring nature of the ugly incident in various parts of Kogi State.
He said the measure would give the state a workable solution to the problem and improve the security of lives and property.
Also speaking, another commissioner, Comrade Jatto Danbello praised the present administration in Kogi State for its foresight in setting up the commission, stressing that membership that constitute it showed that the state was ready to march towards genuine peace and prosperity.
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