Bello’s Opponents Killed, Declared Missing in Eight Years of His Reign, Indigenes Allege

*Urge police, DSS to commence investigation 

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Kogi State indigenes under the auspices of the Executive committee of confluence patriots, weekend, alleged that political opponents of former governor Yahaya Bello and several indigenes of the state were either killed or declared missing during his eight-year reign.

The group, therefore, urged the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to commence detailed investigation into several killings and disappearance of people in the state during his reign.

Secretary of the committee, Abdulwahab Omeiza, who made the call after their their meeting on Saturday in Abuja, said the body noticed several human right abuses leading to the loss of lives and property of innocent citizens  of Kogi during the past administration.

He said most victims of the human right abuses were perceived political opponents in the state.

“It is necessary to state here that some political opponents of former Governor Yahaya Bello were either killed or declared missing with their whereabouts still unknown till date. 

“A good example of this is the burning to death of Mrs Salome Abuh, a PDP woman leader and the disappearance of the PDP Party Chairman of Okene, who has been missing since the last four years.

“And most recently, the killing of four persons including two serving police officers attached to one Alhaji Sheik Jubril,the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Director General in the 2023 governorship election,” he said.

The secretary also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure that every kobo stolen from the Kogi state account was recovered. 

“We commend His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on his renewed efforts in the fight against corruption and corrupt persons in Nigeria. 

“We urge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and indeed the general public not to be dissuaded by the various antics of the former governor  as he seek to truncate all efforts to bring him and his associates to justice.

“We seek the cooperation and collaboration of all security agencies towards the arrest and prosecution of former Governor Yahaya Bello who we believe is currently in hiding.

“We appeal to the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to remain focus in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities as enshrined in the act establishing it and not to be distracted by unscrupulous agents of denial sponsored by Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello.”