Senate urges FG to rehabilitate displaced Omala communities in Kogi East

The Nigerian Senate has adopted a resolution for the rehabilitation of displaced communities in Omala Local Government Council in Kogi East Senatorial District.

The adopted resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho representing Kogi East Senatorial District on the “urgent need to rehabilitate Agojeju-Odo, Ajokpachi-Odo, Bagaji and Bagana communities in Omala.”

The motion noted that the affected communities were wrecked due to Fulani herders’ attacks.

Moving the motion under Orders 41 and 51, Senator Isah explained that Omala with its headquarters in Abejukolo-Ife, covers about 1,667km 2 and has a population of about 176,000 has been under recurrent herders’ attack leading to killings and destruction of properties with little effort to curb the menace.

He said the displaced are currently rendered homeless with the destroyed farmland abandoned for their dear lives, while he further expressed worry that the displaced persons of about 30,000 are relocating to other communities.

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He said, “Aware that Omala LGA has been under recurring attacks by gunmen, leading to killings and destruction of properties and farmlands, thereby rendering many homeless with no means of sustenance.

“Worried that Agojeju Odo, Ajokpachi Odo, Bagaji, and Bagana communities have been ravaged by recent gunmen, rendering over 30,000 inhabitants of the communities homeless, leading to exodus of these inhabitants to other parts of Kogi State.”

According to him, the attack which took place on 5th April 2024, Agojeju Odo, Ajokpachi Odo, led to the loss of 21 innocent lives, including women and children, in addition to unprecedented destruction of their farm produce.

In his contribution, Senator Adams Oshiomhole representing Edo North Senatorial District insisted that the government must rise to the challenge and bring the killing menace to an end, stressing that there must be enough “one-minute silence and outcry”, whenever there was an attack.

The former governor suggested a stakeholder’s conference to provide a platform for a holistic discussion on how to end herders’ attacks, noting that there had been no real solution to herders/farmers’ attacks in previous administrations.

Senator representing North West Senatorial District of Benue State, Titus Zam Tartenger in his contribution lamented endless killings by Fulani herders and insisted that the introduction of a law against open grazing will solve the crisis permanently.

He said: “Mr Senate President, Distinguished Colleagues, all over the world, what guides human behaviour is the law. It is the law that determines whether our behaviour is right or wrong. The Senate is the highest law-making organ in Nigeria. The farmers/herders crisis has defied security efforts.

“In all sincerity, let us have a law prohibiting open grazing in Nigeria. Once we have a law in place, anyone engaging in animal husbandry will now know that it is unlawful to carry animals from Zamfara to Makurdi and along the way, you kill everybody on the route. Once that law is not there, everyone now becomes free to carry arms and invade other people’s communities.”