The National Coordinator, “Like Minds Alliance Pressure Group”, Chief Richard Asaje has debunked circulating rumors that FGYB brought bandits to Yagba land and the state at large, noting that FGYB never sought the services of the mercenaries to claim power in 2015 and 2019 respectively.
According to him, the statement alleging that FGYB recruited bandits to Yagba, Kogi West and the state at large is not true.. lt’s wrong. “When bandits are daily killing in Kogi , in their tens and others their hundreds, is not golden.. He never treated them with kid gloves.
“Recall in 2016, Yahaya Bello warned that his administration would have zero tolerance for crimes and criminality, and he marched his words with action as he donated over 150 Hilux vans to the former IGP, lbrahim ldris kpotun, to combat crimes in the state.
“No doubt about the fact that before the advent of Yahaya Bello’s administration in kogi state, the state was known as a flash point for all forms of criminal activities such as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and killings.
“But on assumption of office, Bello swung into action by declaring zero tolerance for crimes in the state and asked the criminals to relocate to another place as kogi would no longer be a safe destination for them,” he added..
By and large, Bello’s administration succeeded in weeding out the bad elements and was able to keep the state and make the state a peaceful place of abode.
“Even when the vice president came to kogi he said it openly to the whole world that you could say anything about FGYB but he maintained security perfectly and that he can’t be faulted on securing the state to the fullest
We do not buy the assertion that the upsurge in insecurity is the manifestation of evil plan brought by FGYB against kogites.
The statement which is spreading across social media that FGYB brought the bandits to kogi, gave an unverified account of the origin of banditry in the state.. A false accusation, Asaje exclaimed.
Kogite will recall that during FGYB administration, he bulldoze and level down properties belonging to kidnappers, joined security officers to thick forest and across the state security agencies did their best.
Speaking further, Chief Asaje lamented that killing and kidnapping of innocent citizens in his constituency by armed bandits has reached an unbearable dimension, stating that despite the current effort of government and security agencies, these bandits have continued to strike mercilessly and ruthlessly on innocent citizens.
Asaje acknowledged that the security agencies were doing their best, but said, their efforts were not enough.. Much more needs to be done, he said.
He urged the IGP , Service Chiefs, Governor Ododo, LG authority and relevant stakeholders to intensify operations to eradicate the activities pf bandits and restore normalcy, especially in Yagba Federal Constituency of kogi state.
He called for more military operations, adding that the criminal scene keeps changing daily, so the government need to be proactive as they need to forecast threat levels.
Asaje further stated that the violence unleashed by the bandits had negatively affected agriculture put in the domain, noting that in spite of the favourable weather for farming, many farmers were attacked and others had to stay away for safety.
This is war, bandits must be wiped out.. The immediate solution to this problem is intensified military operations from the air on the ground and wipe all of them off.. People who engaged in terrorism or banditry never ever repented , but could only be stopped by death,” he stressed..
Leave FGYB out of the issue,all we need now the support of the government for peace and stability to reign in our locality.
Signed:
Secretary, “Like Minds Alliance Pressure Group
