The people of Biroko community in Mozum district, Bassa local government area of Kogi state have sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) message to Governor Yahaya Bello over recent attacks on their communities allegedly staged by Bassa Komu neighours.
The petitioners under the platform of Mozum Concerned youth Advocacy (MCYA) in a statement jointly signed by its vice chairman, Hamza Mohammed, and the secretary-general, Yusuf Abubakar Danladi, accused their neighouring towns of hiring some mercenaries with whom they attack them, maim their people and loot their economic items.
The different ethnic groups in Bassa local government area of the state have over the years been embroiled in bitter rivalry and violent clashes over land ownership and other sundry issues. The clashes have caused the death and displacement of many of the rural dwellers.
The MCYA claimed in the statement that since Governor Yahaya Bello ordered some of the Egbura people to return to their communities in January, the attacks on them by neighouring communities have resumed.
The statement read in part: “On the 8th January, 2020 the executive Governor of Kogi State Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello gave an order for all the displaced communities to return to their ancestral homes. On the 14th January, 2020 the Biroko community under Mozum district returned to their ancestral home with the support of security personnel.
“From the date of their return, the Biroko community has been under intimidation, harassment and use of provocative words against them.
“On Friday 14th February, 2020 the community came under heavy attack that forced even the security personnel stationed in the community to vacate the town. This attack was followed with forceful harvest of the Biroko community fishing ponds by the Bassa Komu communities and hired Agatu fighters from Benue State who came with sophisticated weapons.
“We the Mozum Concerned youth Advocacy (MCYA) wish to call on the State Government, the security agents and the relevant stakeholders to urgently come to our rescue.
We wish to thank His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, the Executive Governor Kogi State for all he did to arrest the volatile situation before now. We will appreciate if His Excellency will direct for a strict adherence to the order of 8th January, 2020 for the return of all the displaced communities and the provision of adequate security and the arrest of the Bassa Komu assailants.”
