By Correspondent in Lokoja
The Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, has expressed serious concern over insecurity in Okunland in Kogi state.
The monarch, who is also the Chairman, Okun Traditional Council in the West Senatorial district of the state, expressed his feeling in Okene recently.
Our correspondent reports that the Obaro led other traditional ruler in the district to the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland and the Acting Chairman,Acting Chairman of the State Traditional Coucil, Dr Ado Ibrahim in Okene, to intimate him on the rising insecurity in Okunland.
Oba Owoniyi bemoaned the worsening state of security in the area, a development he noted had been fuelled by the influx of herdsmen and other undesirable elements into the entire Okun area.
He said the frightening situation had led to the spike in kidnapping, rape, attack on farmers and the destruction of farmlands with the attendant dangeeous implications for food security not only in Okunland but also entire state as a whole.
The monarch, who noted that insecurity was happening at a time when farmers were supposed to mobilize for the new farming season, observed that heavily armed miscreants were still pouring into the area on a daily basis.
The royal father, therefore, called for urgent action to stem the dangerous tide.
He commended way the Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been tackling insecurity but called for increased and urgent steps to restore peace and sanity in the affected areas.
The Oba urged the acting chairman to lend the weight of his office to the efforts aimed at checking the the infiltration of armed herdsmen into Okunland and other parts of the state.
Receiving the royal entourage, the Ohinoyi also expressed concern and symparthy with the Obaro and his traditional rulers with a promise to take the matter to higher quarters.
The Ohinoyi, who noted that the emerging insecurity in the area, if not tackled with increased efforts,could result in famine in the state advised the people in Okunland to be extra vigilant and report suspected movement and cases to the security agencies.
On the entourage of the Obaro were: the Olujumu of Ijumu, Oba Williams Segun Ayeni; the Olugbedde of Gbeddeland, Oba Olusegun Oloruntoba; Oba of Oranre, Oba Olusegun Aliu; Oba of Gbeleko, Oba Mike Obamero and the Olu of Okebukun and Oba Timothy Ige Omonile among others.
The Reporters recalls that Oyeyemi, the wife of the late Kogi West zonal Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Taiwo Kola-Ojo and 13 others were said to have been abducted along the Iffe-Egbeda Egga road in Ijumu Local Government Area of the state on Monday.
