Tribal leaders accuse state government of collusion with herdsmen militia killings in north central Nigerian state

Uk’Omu Igala Organisation , UIO, a tribal group in Kogi, north central state in Nigeria, says elements within the government collude with herdsmen militia killing people in their natal region.

The group said this, making an appeal to Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene and stop the attacks and killings carried by the militia who are largely believed to be Fulani herders.

Affected area in Kogi are Omala and Dekina Local Government Areas of Kogi State.

Igala, arguably the fourth largest tribe in the country is classified as one of the country’s less spoken tribe outside the big three (Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba).

UIO describe how these herders have been attacking farmers, killing people, destroying villages and farmlands, and causing widespread displacement of residents in the region.

The organization criticizes the lack of action by the Kogi State Government and accuses them of making agreements with the attackers instead of protecting the people.

“In the last one month, bandits who invaded our villages in the name of herding, have attacked peaceful farmers, killed several persons, destroyed villages, and rendered thousands of persons homeless in Omala and Dekina Local Government Areas of Kogi State, explained UIO’s National Leader, Elder David Abutu, and National Director of Mobilisation, Suleiman Akpa, in signed statement .

They are urging President Tinubu to send in military forces to drive out the killers and provide aid to the affected communities.

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