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Senate condemns killings in Omala communities, Kogi state
The Senate has resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to organize a public hearing involving all stakeholders to find lasting solution to the recurrent issue of herders and farmers clash that has resulted in the death of many Nigerians.
This followed adoption of a motion on matter of urgent importance titled “urgent need for rehabilitation of Agojeju Odo, Ajokpachi, Bagajib and Bagana, communities in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi state by gun men attacks and killings, which was sponsored by Senator Isah Jibrin (APC-Kogi East).
Jibrin in his motion said Omala Local Government Area has been under recurring attacks by gunmen, leading to killings and destruction of properties and farmlands.
He said the attacks and killings had rendered many homeless with no means of sustenance.
He said it was worrisome that Agojeju Odo, Ajokpachi Odo, Bagaji and Bagana communities have been ravaged by recent gunmen, rendering over 30,000 inhabitants of the communities homeless and leading to exodus of the people to other parts of the state.
He said on 5th April 2024, armed herders invaded Agojeju Odo, Ajokpachi Odo, Bagaji and Bagana communities, killing 21 innocent citizens, including women and children, in addition to unprecedented destruction of their farm produce.
“Alarmed that on 30th April, gunmen attacked Ajokpachi Odo community in Omala LGA, killing no fewer than three persons and rendering the entire community desolate, with no health facility to cater for the deteriorating health conditions of the survivors.
He said the attacks have resulted in the killing of over 500 citizens, in addition to wanton destruction of public and private properties worth hundreds of millions of naira.
According to him, the displaced persons have resolved to return to their ancestral homes, but cannot afford shelters and have no means of sustenance.
He also expressed worry that educational institutions in the communities had been destroyed, with many buildings and other facilities completely burnt down, thereby making it absolutely difficult for the children of the affected communities to access educational facilities.
He also expressed regrets that apart from destruction of schools, health centres are obviously non-existent to cater for the health needs of the affected communities as the few hitherto existing ones have been lost to the hostilities
This, he said has increased the rate of mortality in the affected communities.
He said markets, business centres, shops and various business outfits in the affected communities have been completely destroyed.
This, he said had resulted in an the people to an atmosphere of inevitable economic helplessness.
Contributing to the motion, Senator Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central) said the nation was yet to curb the problem of headers ravaging communities, adding that the herders have no right to ravage any community, saying that actions should be taken for ranching of cattle in the country.
“We must find a way of banning migrant gracing and apprehend and prosecute the killers”, he said.
Senstor Adams Oshiomhole (APC -Edo North) advised Senate to set up of an ad-hoc committee to organise public hearing to find a lasting solution to issues of farmers headers classes. This was accepted by all.
Senator Titus Zam (APC-Benue North West) said the farmers/headers crisis had defiled all security solutions, advising that Senate should enact an “open gracing prohibition law”, which he said would deter open gracing and encourage ranching of cattle.
The Senate after observing a minute silence for the departed souls in the communities, urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist the affected communities with relief materials and other forms of support.
The Edo Government has directed all public and private schools in the state to resume the 2024/25 academic session on September 30.
This directive comes after an earlier postponement of the resumption date, initially set for September 9, 2024.
In a statement on Sunday in Benin, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Ojo Akin-Longe, warned that a fake notification had been circulating that schools would reopen on Monday.
He urged parents and guardians to disregard this false information.
The permanent secretary said, “We refer to the earlier announcement postponing the resumption of all public and private schools in Edo State, which was originally scheduled to reopen on Monday, 9th September 2024.
“We are aware of a subsequent false notification stating that schools should resume on Monday, 23rd September 2024.
“We wish to clarify that this announcement did not originate from the Edo State Government and is the work of mischief makers. The information is false and should be disregarded.
“The Edo State Government hereby directs that all public and private schools in the state will now resume for the 2024/25 academic session on Monday, 30th September 2024. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.”
At least 17 members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) drowned while attempting to cross a river along the Nigeria-Niger Republic border.
According to a counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, the incident occurred between the Kafetoa and Bulabulin Gaidam communities in Yobe State, Nigeria.
The insurgents were reportedly en route to Tam village in Niger Republic, near the Kannamma settlement in Yobe, when they were caught by strong water currents and swept away.
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Makama stated that the fighters had been displaced from key bases, including Bulabulin Geidam, Chettimari, and Diffan, all along the Nigeria-Niger border regions.
ISWAP has been involved in insurgency activities across Nigeria’s northeastern region and has come under increasing pressure from Nigerian military operations in recent months.
Human rights activist and convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, has reaffirmed the scheduled second phase of the nationwide protests against acute hunger, poverty and bad governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration tagged #FearlessInOctober.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) party, said the protests should not be regarded as only meant for Generation Z (Gen Z), but for all ages.
Generation Z refers to people born between 1996 and 2010. They are also known as Zoomers. They are the second-youngest generation, between millennials and Generation Alpha.
According to Sowore, the movement is championed by Nigerians of all ages who are fed up with bad governance in Nigeria, and in extension, Africa, noting that their flag will be “A New Pan-Africanism”.
He stressed that only if Africans unite will they be able to earn a place in global prosperity, hence, Nigerians need to rise against bad governance on October 1 when the country marks its Independence Day.
He said, “But don’t call it a Generation Z protest, rather from A to Z. The movement is animated by Nigerians of all ages, who are fed up with bad governance.
“Only if Africans unite will they be able to earn a place in global prosperity.”
He said the protests will be in October because “it’s a significant month for a number of reasons”.
He said, “There’s the anniversary of “their” independence, which Nigerians have not yet truly won, and also that of #EndSARS, the movement that denounces the abuses and blackmail against defenseless citizens committed by the police of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad at dawn on October 20, 2020.
“After days of marches, soldiers shot at participants in a sit-in in Lagos to enforce a curfew order. According to a local commission of inquiry, there were at least 48 victims: young people who denounced bad governance.”
The first phase of the protests took place nationwide from August 1-10, during and following which Nigerian authorities arrested several people for their alleged roles in the demonstrations.
The authorities have held several protesters in prison and charged them with treason.
However, Sowore has continued to encourage Nigerians, especially the youths not to surrender to the government’s brutality and hostility meant to silence and keep them in perpetual bondage.
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