Governor Bello gives Feb 28th deadline for heads of higher institutions in Kogi to end cult related violence on campuses »

Kogi State Governor has given the end of February this year as deadline for heads of all higher institutions in the state to end the scourge of cult related violence.

The deadline was given this Friday in Lokoja following a security meeting he held with Vice Chancellors of Federal University Lokoja and the Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba; the Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja; provosts of other colleges and the Chief Security Officers of the institutions and other stakeholders.

Hon Fanwo said the Governor also charged both the office of the State Security Adviser and the ministry of information and communication to launch a state wide campaign against cultism because government discovered it is not only on campuses the menace exists but also we also among Unions, Communities and Associations, including Okada Riders and Transport Union, Tricycle Riders and others.

He maintained that Governor Bello pledged to support higher institutions to ensure peace in their campuses including looking into the possibility of putting in place perimeter fencing where there are none to ensure the students are properly controlled.

“The Governor also charged heads of higher institutions to ensure they have all the biodata and necessary information on their students to be able to ensure they track them when they get involved in cult related activities on campus.

“So, we are going to launch a state wide campaign against cultism because the Governor has said he has zero tolerance for cultism and therefore directed all heads of security agencies to be on the march to ensure that cultists have no place in our society.

Some of the factors that heads of institutions adduced as factors militating against their anti – cultism fight include lack of hostel accommodations which makes it difficult to control the activities on those that don’t stay on campus, lack of proper perimeter fencing, internal sabotage among others which the Governor promised to assist them in fighting.

He noted that Governor Bello agreed that it is his responsibility and the responsibility of government to ensure security of lives and property among students in all campuses across the state.

The State Security adviser, Navy Comamnder Jerry Omodara (rtd) had earlier the ground rolling with his opening address where he informed the stakeholders that the current administration had expended a lot to ensure security of lives and property, adding that the problem of cultism was another menace it wants to put a stop to in all institutions of learning in the state.

He opened his address by quoting in part, what the Governor had said about sustaining the administration’s gains in the area of security during his inauguration address where he said; “The great gains we made in securing the lives and property of our people and those who traverse our territory demand from us creative thinking and plenty of sacrifice which we did not fail to provide. Kogi in the third more secured as we go into our second term.”