Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State:

Governor Yahaya Bello has banned all activities related to masquerades in Kogi Central Senatorial District, Petra Akinti Onyegbule, Chief Press Secretary to the governor said in a statement on Thursday.

The ban followed the killing of a masquerade and six persons in Okene and Ofu Local Government Areas of the State respectively by yet to be identified gunmen on Tuesday.

The Governor also directed that the curfew imposed in Kogi Central Senatorial district following the killing should be strengthened even as he vowed that severe punishment would be meted out to whoever runs foul the directive.

See the full statement below:

GOVERNOR  BELLO REAFFIRMS HIS COMMITMENT TO ENSURING A KOGI SAFE FOR ALL

His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State is pleased to reaffirm his commitment towards ensuring safety and security for the indigenes and inhabitants of the State. He hereby reiterates his firm commitment to ensuring continuous security and safety of lives and properties in the State as he vows not to relent in his administration’s lofty strides to taking the fight to the enemies of the State.

The Governor notes that he is fully aware of the antics of those enraged by the audacious move of his administration to destroy criminal hideouts and properties of criminals in the State.

The Governor expresses his awareness about the financiers and backers of these criminals committed to foisting mayhem on the people, noting that he is not oblivious of the fact that they are still out there, whilst they are erroneously thinking they are far away from the reach of the long arm of the Law. He, however vows that whoever they are, wherever they may be, his government would be going after them and bringing them to justice.

Also read: Gunmen kill masquerade, 6 others in Kogi

Having observed that it is the intention of these criminal elements to keep Kogites in a perpetual state of fear by orchestrating fresh moves to unleash a reign of terror, Governor Bello declares that their plots will be overwhelmingly resisted. He, therefore, states that neither crime nor a reign of terror would be tolerated in Kogi State.

All law-abiding citizens and residents in the State are urged to remain calm, go about their legitimate businesses and report all suspicious activities to security agencies to carry out necessary investigations and address appropriately.

In a similar vein, the Governor hereby directs a concerted strengthening of the existing curfew in Kogi Central Senatorial district and whoever runs foul of this directive should be made to face the severe consequences of their actions.

He states equally that custodians of masquerades in the senatorial district are to take note by this Statement that masquerade activities remain banned until further notice. Anyone who runs foul of this directive shall be brought to book for disrupting the public peace and obstruction of communal serenity, as a safe Kogi State which is a prerequisite for development and peaceful living would not be compromised under any guise, no matter whose ox is gored.

Signed:

Petra Akinti Onyegbule,

Chief Press Secretary to the Kogi State Governor.