Amid speculations that abductors of the Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State have asked for N100 million to free him, it has also emerged that the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeroa (MACBAN) in Kogi State, Alhaji Wakili Damina, has also been abducted.
State Secretary of MACBAN, Mr Adamu Abubakar, disclosed on Tuesday in Lokoja that Damina was abducted five days ago by armed men dressed in army camouflage.
The latest information comes as the Kogi State government finally broke its silence over the killing of the state board commissioner for Pensions, Chief Solomon Adebayo, and kidnap of Mr. Kolawole.
The Government said that it is hard at work with other relevant stakeholders to the abducted Chairman freed.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, said, ”We wish to report, with every sense of sobriety, the unfortunate attack by some gunmen on a Commissioner in the Kogi Pension Commission, Late Solomon Adebayo and also the Chairman of Yagba West LGA, Pius Kolawole, on their way back to the state from Kwara.
”We can confirm authoritatively that the unfortunate incident happened shortly after Eruku, Ekiti Local Government, Kwara. Adebayo died as a result of gun wounds sustained from the sad incident.
”The whereabouts of the Chairman of Yagba West LGA is still unknown but security agencies in both Kwara and Kogi, as well as local security services are working hard to ensure the safe return of the chairman”, Fanwo said.
He explained that the Government had been cautious in making official statements in order not to do anything to throw into jeopardy, the efforts of security agencies on the matter.
”But it is also incumbent on a responsible Government like ours to speak to our people and assure them that Kogi will spare nothing to remain the safest in the country.
”We also wish to caution those making statements which are capable of undermining the security of the state to desist from such an unpatriotic wish for anomie.
”It is high time we came together to make our nation safe, secured and governable.
”The Government and the people of Kogi are also determined to make Kogi peaceful and safe. Our Government has the backing of the people and the security agencies to keep Kogi safe”, Fanwo said.
”We thank all good spirited agencies and private individuals who have stood with us in this dark time.
”As a government, we will recommit ourselves to collaborating with neighboring States to ensure security of lives and property
On the abducted MACBAN chairman, the state secretary said that about eight abductors whisked him away in a white bus at about 12 noon from his house at Chikara village, Kogi Local Government.
Abubakar said Damina’s younger brother, who witnessed the incident, briefed him about an hour later after it took place.
“Since then, his lines are not reachable and all efforts to know his whereabouts proved abortive,” he said.
Abubakar disclosed that the State government and police have been duly informed.