Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has suspended a traditional ruler over alleged complicity in the killing of a Fulani man at Isanlu, in Yagba East local government of the state.
The governor also directed that some traditional rulers in the affected areas be properly interrogated in order to get to the root of the matter.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, revealed this in a statement on Monday without revealing the name of the suspended traditional ruler.
According to the commissioner, Ododo suspended the monarch after an emergency security meeting he held with the parties involved in the Isanlu crisis.
He said the governor cut short his journey to attend to the emergency situation in Isanlu With a view to averting reprisal attacks from Fulani people.
The statement said Governor Ododo frowned at a situation where people would take laws into their hands by killing fellow humans, saying such was not acceptable and that perpetrators will be prosecuted.
The governor has ordered the leaders of the Isanlu community to warn their subjects not to constitute insecurity in Yagba East and the entire Yagba Federal Constit, and further directed them to fish out the criminal elements among them as his administration will go after every criminal in the state, regardless of tribe.
“The Governor, without mincing words, also challenged the leadership of the Isanlu community and its environs in Yagba East to sensitize their people on the need to stop constituting security threats in the area by taking the laws into their hands.
“He particularly told them to stop harboring criminals and to ensure that criminal elements among them are reported and handed over to law enforcement agencies in order to curb insecurity in the area,” the commissioner noted, adding that Governor Ododo has promised to protect everyone living in the state, but stressed that no criminal would be spared.
The Governor commended the Fulanis in the area for not engaging in reprisal attack over the unfortunate incident, thanking them for demonstrating maturity, understanding and commitment to peace and security.
He also expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Fulani community in the state for supporting the security initiatives of the administration, saying their efforts at maintaining peace and security are well documented and appreciated.
The emergency security meeting was attended by top government officials, security agencies, community leaders and representatives of the Fulanis in the area.
