Barely a week after an
attack that led to the killing of about 19 persons, Kogi State Governor Yahaya
Bello on Thursday met with the leaders of Tawari community, promising to fish
out the killers.
The
governor, who held a peace meeting at the Government House Lokoja with the
paramount rulers and people of the Tawari communities, called for calm and
assured them that the government was working hard to restore lasting peace to
the area.
According
to him, the casualty figure has risen to 29, as more deaths were recorded in
other communities within the district.
Bello, who acknowledged the peaceful disposition of the Tawari people, noted
that the attack took place when there was no provocation.
He stressed
that his administration would leave no stone unturned in unmasking those behind
the dastardly acts.
Bello
assured the victims of timely distribution of relief materials.
He also
said that a committee had been set up to begin the distribution.
He added
that his government would not fold its arms and watch bandits and terrorists
unleash mayhem on the people, insisting that government would adopt security
measures that would be mobile and effective to deal with any security
challenges across the country.
He
explained that the same methods that worked in Dekina, Bassa and Omala local
government areas, when they were attacked, would be replicated in Tawari to
bring lasting solution to insecurity of the area.
He urged the
traditional rulers, youth groups and opinion moulders in communities across the
state to join hands with the government to ensure the success of the new
security architecture, and rid the state of criminals and people with predatory
tendencies.
He directed
the youth leaders and the critical stakeholders in the communities to, within
48 hours, furnish his office with the level of damage to individuals for
monetary compensation.
