House of Rep member says hold Governor Yahaya Bello responsible for herdsmen attack in Kogi, reveals why

macfranc007 March 20, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Eromosele Ebhomele

- James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives, is accusing Governor Yahaya Bello's government of fuelling alleged herdsmen attacks in Kogi

- Faleke, running mate to late Abubakar Audu in the 2015 governorship election, says Bello should accept responsibility for the attacks because he claimed he accommodate the herders

- The lawmaker also pleads for peaceful co-existence and the flushing out of the bandits from the state

A member of the House of Representatives and running mate to late Abubakar Audu in the 2015 governorship election in Kogi, James Faleke, has accused Governor Yahaya Bello of giving herdsmen a “blank cheque to operate” in the state..

Recently, about 25 residents were said to have been killed when suspected herdsmen stormed and attacked three communities in the state including Oganienugwu and Ikende.

In a statement, issued to journalists on Friday, March 19, Faleke described the killings as the height of wickedness just as he called on the state government to take responsibility for the incident and for what he called the latter’s failure.

“The news came to us as a shock. That is wickedness of the highest order. What can we ever equate with human lives? How did we come to this sorry pass as a people?

“We are calling on the state government led by Governor Yahaya Bello who gave the herdsmen a blank cheque to operate in Kogi state in the first place to urgently move to draw the attention of the leadership of the herdsmen, the Miyetti Allah, to this wicked assault on the people of Kogi, while also rallying the various security organizations to action.

“We find it difficult to believe the statement credited to the state government after the attack which said ‘the attack was politically motivated’ instead the government should be bold enough to accept responsibility for its failure.

“We note that we have lived with Fulanis in our various communities since times past and had never had cause to fight them. We are therefore appealing to the original peaceful Fulanis living in our midst to be more accommodating and volunteer information to security agencies on invaders and criminals parading themselves as Fulanis,” he said

Continuing, the statement, reported by New Telegraph, wondered: “How can the state government set up a judicial panel when investigations are still ongoing to unravel and arrest perpetrators of the henious crime?

“So, who and who would appear before the panel? We sincerely hope this is not another opportunity for the witch hunt of perceived political enemies.

“We are aware that the government bought over 300 GSM handsets to some of its political informants to give information to it on anybody or group discussing or found to be speaking ill against government in all the 21 local governments.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app

“We advise that those informants be used to help track the movement of the herdsmen and not the peaceful Kogites.

“We hereby call for support for the displaced members of these communities. Public-spirited individuals, government and international agencies are urged to come to the aid of these people.”

At the time of this report, the state government was yet to issue a formal reaction to the allegation.

NAIJ.com earlier reported that Faleke had condemned Governor Yahaya Bello for accepting the proposed cattle colony by the federal government. James Faleke said it is wrong for Bello to buy into the idea of establishing such colonies in the state without due consultation.

Not Too Young to Run Bill: Nigerian youths march to Aso Rock in support (Nigeria News) | Naij.com TV - on NAIJ.com TV