The Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has expressed shock over Thursday’s communal clash, which claimed 19 lives in Agojeju-Odo in Omala Local Government Area of the state.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah, in a statement on Saturday, said the governor regretted the ugly dimension that the communal clashes in the area have assumed over time.
He promised immediate intervention by his administration to forestall recurrence.
Gunmen, on Thursday, invaded two communities of Agojeju and Abejukolo in Omala Local Government Area in Kogi East Senatorial District, killing no fewer than 19 people.
Ododo promised to bring the perpetrators to justice, adding that security agencies are on the trail of the assailants whose acts of mindless cowardice resulted in the destruction of lives and property in the area.
“I want to assure you that all those who perpetrated this dastardly act will be brought to book. Security agencies are on their trail, and in no time, they will be brought back to face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
The governor who has since sent a delegation led by the state deputy governor, Joel Salifu, on a condolence visit to the area, further assured the people that kinetic and non-kinetic measures deployed by the state government has led to relative stability in Omala LGA until the recent escalation of the conflict.
Ododo further stated that the state will deploy a detachment of the recently established Metropolitan Quick Response to the area to complement existing security architecture.
The governor commiserated with relatives of those killed in the crisis and promised to provide support for those injured and others whose houses were destroyed.
