Senate investigates killing of 15 in Kogi crisis

Soji-Eze Fagbemi and Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 12.03.2008

The Senate has directed its committees on Police Affairs and National Security and Intelligence to investigate the crisis in Ogaminana, in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State, which resulted in the death of over 15 persons.

Following a motion moved during Tuesday’s sitting of the Upper Chamber by Senator Salihu Ohize (Kogi Central), the Senate mandated the two committees to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the crisis.

Moving the motion, Senator Ohize noted that on Tuesday, February 26, 2008, a clash between some youths and anti-riot policemen invited by the owners of some trucks, resulted in the death of over 15 people, including a policeman.

He expressed concern that more than 90 houses, 150 market stalls and the Local Government Education Authority office were set ablaze by the police.

Senator Ohize explained that some unarmed youths in the area were protesting against the concession of the Itakpe Iron Ore Mining Company to Global Infrastructure Holding Limited, accusing the company of not operating in accordance with the agreement with the Federal Government.

“A peaceful protest by the unarmed youths and the detention of the six trucks conveying iron ore concentrates to Port Harcourt by the youth further aggravated a reprisal attack by the policemen to avenge the death of their colleague by an unidentified youth in the area,” he observed.

The fracas, according to him, had resulted in the burning of 19 cars, 90 motorcycles with property worth billions of naira destroyed when the policemen stormed the area at night and unleashed terror.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Olorunnibe Mamora supported the motion, saying that “in democracy, protest is a legitimate means to register dissatisfaction with any issue.

“It appears to me that the Police Force is yet to imbibe the culture of peaceful protest management. This is quite unfortunate and it is high time the police imbibed peaceful protest management.”