A former House of Representatives member, Rep. TeeJay Yusuf, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Kogi State Government and security agencies to curb the level of insecurity in the Okun area of Kogi State.
Yusuf, who represented Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency until 2023, in the House of Representatives, made this appeal in a statement he issued on Monday.
Expressing concern over the recent state of insecurity across Okunland, particularly, the Bunu District of Kogi State, urged the state government, and security agencies to urgently take proactive measures toward addressing the precarious situation.
“According to reports, indigenes and residents of communities across the stretch of the five local government areas that make up the Okun-Yoruba axis of the state, have been victims of attacks by groups of charlatans whose identities are not known.
“Moreso, it is very sad that people in the Bunu District within Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, have been subjected to perennial harassment, intimidation, and kidnapping by some hideous criminals.
“From reports, these callously wicked, and criminally-infected persons attack, and kidnap innocent people of these communities with brazenness.
“More intriguing, is that some victims are kidnapped directly from the comfort of their homes; while sleeping at night.
“Aside subjecting their victims to unexplainable, and pitiable shocks and pain, they and their families, friends, and respective communities are harrowed and forced to pay huge sums of ransom that are not readily available as the majority are peasant farmers.
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“Many people believe that the unrestrained cases of kidnapping and similar attacks on the communities are not unconnected to the chequered manner in which the Kogi State Government, allegedly opened its borders to people of questionable characters; in the name of politics between 2020 and 2022.
“Also, some other people alluded to the fact that, given their styles of operations and idiosyncrasies, the influx of these people to different locations in Okunland, may have contributed in no small measures to the worrying, and disturbing situation at hand.
“As a result of the frequency of these nefarious and callous attacks, the peace- loving people of these communities are experiencing psychological torture, and emotional pain as they now live in perpetual fear, worries, and anxiety; not knowing who the next victim will be.
“Also, the people, who are basically farmers have practically abandoned their farmlands, out of fear of being kidnapped. This development, has brought about hunger, poverty, and untoward hardships across the communities and towns in the affected areas,” Yusuf said.
While noting the preponderance of kidnapping and attacks on innocent people, he called on the state government to immediately emplace result-yielding measures to effectively tackle the disturbing trend.
“Also, I implore various law -enforcement and security agencies, with necessary support from the state government to collaborate with one another towards ensuring the protection of lives and properties in these communities.
“Finally, as I sympathise with the families, friends, colleagues, and associates of those that have been victims of these dastardly attacks, I appeal for calm, law, and order as government and relevant agencies do all that is necessary in tackling the menace.
“It is imperative to reiterate that the state government must do everything lawful to safeguard the safety of her citizens, and their properties; which is the primary function of the administration,” the former House member added.
