2019: Gov Bello arming militias —Melaye

Twenty four hours after senators indicted some governors, including Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, over high handedness and use of force against their opponents ahead of the 2019 general elections, Senator Dino Melaye has again alleged that militia groups are being armed in his state.

Melaye who raised a point of order on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, accused Governor Bello of arming militia groups in the state.

He also claimed that the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), recently intercepted military hardwares, allegedly imported into the country by Kogi State Government, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Melaye listed “sewn military camouflages with bola hats, many bullet proof vests, night vision googles, tactical boots, tactical knapsacks, training canvas, boxing gloves, among others,” as part of the items recovered.

Read also: Lawyer lands in trouble, to pay N2m fine over Rep member Jibrin

The lawmaker claimed that one Mr. Jerry Omadara, security adviser to Kogi State Governor, has admitted that the seized items belong to the Government of Kogi State.

“Upon seizure of these items, one Jerry Omadara, who is the security adviser to governor of Kogi state went to the Customs officers and told them that the items belonged to the Kogi State Government and even gave them his complimentary card.

“These items are with NACO at the airport here in Abuja. I thereby move that the committee constituted this morning to move to the airport to make sure that these items are there and not moved and properly investigated. I said before that militias are being equipped by the Kogi State Government,” Melaye alleged.

Meanwhile, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has warned politicians in the country to call their supporters to order ahead of the 2019 general elections.

“If we destroy this country, all of us will suffer it. So we need to do whatever possible we can to ensure that we keep the waters of democracy clean. The issue of violence may not help any person. Let us believe this will not be the true fact, but because it has been raised, I think it is Important for avoidance of doubt to ensure that we look into this to be able to know what is true and what is not true in the circumstance,” Ekweremadu said.

In the meantime, Ekweremadu has announced the membership of the committee to investigate an alleged attack on Senator Ahmed Ogembe in Okene, Kogi State.

James Manager of Delta South was appointed to head the committee. Others appointed into the committee which was announced by Ekweremadu are Jeremiah Useni, Isah Hamman Misau, Kabiru Marafa, Solomon Olamilekan, Matthew Urhoride and Chukwuka Utazi.
By Ehisuan Odia…

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now