*DEKINA ELDERS COUNCIL CONDEMNS FULANI MILITIA ATTACKS, DEMANDS MORE SECURITY MEASURES TO CURB THE TREND*

By Our Reporter

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*LOKOJA* – The Dekina Local Government Elders Council Lokoja has condemned what it described as a well-planned and coordinated Fulani militia attack on communities in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, and called on the state government to urgently deploy more security measures to halt further violence.

At an enlarged meeting held on Saturday, 10th May 2026, at Karomsi Hotel and Gardens, Lokongoma, Lokoja, the council deliberated on the  security situation and persistent attacks that have forced residents to abandon their homes. 

The meeting was attended by prominent personalities and stakeholders, including two retired Permanent Secretaries, Messrs J.K. Umaru and Barrister Alfred Shehu Akpala; former Auditor General of Kogi State, Sir Atakida P.E.; Honourable members of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Alh. Hassan Sado of Okura Constituency and Alh. Usman Ochidi aka POWERFUL; as well as retired and serving Directors in the Kogi State Civil Service, Mr. Emmanuel Akowe and Mr. Joel M. Ijaja; retired security personnel Otajele S.O.; and a host of indigenes from the affected communities and villages of Aloko, Akpelu, Ebeje, Erabo, Okpakili, Ojẹ, Agbada, among others.

During its extensive deliberations, the council expressed grave concern over the killings, mindless destruction, and unconscionable abuse of women, which it said had resulted in the complete desertion of the directly affected communities. It noted that many adjacent villages to the epicentres of the invasion had also been deserted and turned into ghost settlements, as indigenes fled to distant towns for safety. Some elderly persons, the council said, had been abandoned to die in their homes, with some reportedly burnt in the raging infernos, creating a monumental humanitarian problem for displaced persons.

The council resolved and called on the Kogi State Government to urgently direct relevant security agencies to establish and maintain security posts within and around the affected communities to forestall further attacks. It also urged that displaced indigenes and families be resettled in their ancestral homes within the shortest possible time under adequate security arrangements, and that government, in tandem with humanitarian agencies, provide comprehensive relief materials and social amenities to address the trauma and needs of victims.

It further demanded that all security agencies be mandated to embark on an aggressive investigation to fish out all actors connected with the attacks and killings and bring them to justice without delay. The council strongly condemned the narrative that frames the incidents as a clash between herders and farmers, stating that information available from various sources showed the attacks were carried out by a -strong Fulani militia force using a scorched earth strategy aimed at the wholesale and irreversible dislocation of indigenous communities for permanent capture and occupation in fulfilment of what it called “the overall Fulani agenda for Nigeria.”

The council acknowledged and appreciated the efforts of the Kogi State Government towards restoring peace in the troubled communities. It commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for visiting the affected communities, directing the immediate provision of palliatives to victims, and putting in place measures to restore peace and normalcy. It also expressed appreciation to individuals, groups, and humanitarian organizations that have mobilized support for victims during this period.

The meeting ended with prayers for lasting peace, justice, and security across Dekina Local Government Area and Kogi State at large.

*Signed:*  

Dekina Local Government Elders Council  Lokoja ,Kogi State.