Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi says he is working with security agencies to unmask the killers of the state chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Jalido.
Mr. Jalido was assassinated by yet to be identified gunmen in the early hours of Oct. 30 in his residence at Peace Community, Lokoja.
Bello, who said this in a statement in Lokoja on Sunday, condemned the brutal killing of Mr. Jalido, saying that the killers would be apprehended and made to face the law for the dastardly action.
He called for calm among Fulani herdsmen in the state, advising against reprisal and extrajudicial reaction from any quarters.
“The prevailing calm in the wake of the unfortunate crime should be sustained,” the governor pleaded in the statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Petra Akinti-Onyegbule.
“It is important that crime does not go unpunished, in order to send a resounding message to all and sundry that such will not be tolerated in Kogi State,” he said.
While describing the assassination of Mr. Jalido as painful, Mr. Bello condoled members of his immediate family and friends to bear his death with absolute faith in Allah and prayed that God grant him eternal rest.
Meanwhile, the association has promised to remain calm and give the government and security agencies time to unmask the killers of Mr. Jalido.
The state secretary of the association, Suleiman Abubakar, told the News Agency of Nigeria that members of the association had decided to give security agencies necessary information that might lead to the arrest of the killers.
Mr. Abubakar urged government and security agencies to expedite action to unmask the killers in the interest of justice and fairness.
“Average Nigerians can endure other hardships but this kind of action they may not endure,” Mr. Abubakar told NAN in a telephone interview.
(NAN)
