Residents of Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi, have demanded the sack of the Council Chairman, Hon Friday Nicodemus Adejoh, over negligence of duty.
The protest followed the relocation of the chairman over a series of kidnappings recorded in recently in the area.
Some residents who expressed dismay over the rising insecurity in the Local Government Area accused the council chairman of relocating to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, instead being on ground to address the problem in his domain.
While appealing to Governor Yahaya Bello to call the embattled Local Government Council Chairman to order, the residents said most part of Olamalaboro LGA is no longer safe since it is now a breeding ground for criminal elements.
A resident of Emonoja, a village in Olamaboro Local Government identified as Adejo Okpetu told our correspondent on Saturday that the embattled Chairman has abandoned his official duty, just for his own selfish interest.
According to the aggrieved resident, the Chairman has failed to compliment the effort of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi in safeguarding the lives and properties of his people.
“Our Chairman, (Hon Friday Nicodemus Adejoh) hardly stays in our Local Government for two or three days to know what his people are facing.
“The next thing, we will here that he has travelled to Lokoja to do nothing. Sitting and enjoying himself while we are at the mercy of these criminals who perpetrate evil on daily basis. As we speak, the people of Emonoja are living in fear.
“We don’t know who is the next victim. There are many kidnap cases going on within and outside our community. All we want is for our Executive Chairman to hold the bull by the horn and ensure that sanity returns to our community,” the resident said.
Elder Abuh Onoja from Emagaba said if nothing changes, they might be forced to embark on a protest to register their grievances about the lackadaisical attitude of the Council boss to the security of his people.
“Things are getting out of hand. We want our Council Chairman back to Olamalaboro so that he can fix the security challenges we are facing now. Relocating to Lokoja or any other place will not solve the menace of kidnapping, armed robbery we are witnessing today.
“I’m appealing to our amiable Governor to direct the Council Chairman back to his community and face this wicked people who are inflicting pains on us.
“We are aware that there are many kidnap victims in the bush who are yet to be rescued. Their families are in pain. So, something urgently must be done to address the ugly situation we are facing now,” he lamented.
Ogwu Akogu and Ameh Peter both from Ogugu Centre and Ette communities respectively described the security situation in their areas as very worrisome.
They also appeal to Governor Yahaya Bello and security agencies in Kogi State to ensure that the high spate of insecurity is nipped in the bud in Olamaboro Local Government Area.
All efforts to speak with the embattled Olamaboro Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Friday Nicodemus Adejoh proved abortive at the time of filing this report as he neither responds to calls or replies text messages sent to his phone line.
It could be recalled that, just recently, a community policing organisation, Kogi East Neighborhood Watch, (KENW) lamented over the recent kidnap of travellers by unknown criminals on the Emonoja- Ette road, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The group noted that the gunmen were armed to the teeth with AK 47 and other dangerous weapons are still holding their victims in the bush.
The group through its Secretary, Comrade Isaac Inah in a statement had said ” While effort is ongoing to deescalate kidnapping in Kogi East the spike in Olamaboro LGA at this time so close to the election when movement should be free is a pointer to possible fear people may have, including INEC officials, during the upcoming election”.
