Ex- NOA DG condemns attacks in Nasarawa, calls for security reinforcement

By David Odama

Former Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Dr Mike Omeri Friday strongly condemned spiral attacks in communities of Nasarawa state by suspected terror gangs and infiltrators.

This is even as he called for the reinforcement of security, especially in the affected communities, in order to forestall further loss of lives, properties and chaos.

The former NOA boss in a signed statement made available to Journalists in Lafia also, drew special attention to land capture by new Fulani intruders in most parts of Nasarawa state, including Kadarko, in Keana LG, Doma, Akwanga, Kokona, Nasarawa Local government areas among others.

“While Nasarawa people are peace loving and welcoming, visitors and new entrants into the communities should be harbingers of peace and development and not purveyors of trouble and deaths.

“We can co- habit peacefully by making it a duty to understand each other not through farm land capture where such lands are turned into new independent communities, rearing crime and terrible things including murders, theft and rape”, the DG stated.

“A situation where citizens are forced to vacate thier settlements in Nasarawa state must be corrected and tackled head on. It is sad, it’s unacceptable, it’s disgraceful and condemnable. ” the statement declared.

The statement further explained that the attacks in those communities have become too frequent and worrisome, particularly over land capture, which he said is becoming unbearable and unacceptable.

“This statement has become imperative since the state authorities are perceived to be overlooking the increasing incidence, which is targeting some other groups in the areas.

While lamenting further, Omeri noted that the attacks and killings have been established and being perpetrated by the so-called “unknown gunmen” prior to electioneering activities prompting residents to ponder and conclude that such killings were politically motivated.

He also attributed the frequent attacks as deliberate undertaken to cause confusion and dispersal of communities and deprive them of thier settlements which are now gradually being taken by “unknown settlers.”

He appealed for more security presence in those areas prone and vulnerable to attacks.

“I want to call on the government in power to rise to its challenge of protecting the citizenry. Governor Sule should put in more efforts and measures to stem the increasing wave of insecurity in Nasarawa state.”

“Most communities in the state now live in fear of the unknown gunmen therefore must mobilised all security systems, rise to it’s obligations of securing the people and their properties.” Omeri declared.