Leadership tussle ignites clash in Lokoja
The recognition of each group has been contentious among their followers who looked up to their leaders as their hope for tomorrow. That is why, according to a member of Suraj’s group, they have stirred the whirlwind and would wait to harvest it. In the beginning, before Suraj came with a group of six others […]
The recognition of each group has been contentious among their followers who looked up to their leaders as their hope for tomorrow. That is why, according to a member of Suraj’s group, they have stirred the whirlwind and would wait to harvest it. In the beginning, before Suraj came with a group of six others to the area, there were no problems, but began when the leadership tussle was promoted by the interest groups. From a source, Weekly Trust gathered that those who were on ground before Suraj came with his parents from Bayelsa State saw a push from a boy, who caused Suraj to fall, slap on their egos.
What caused another argument was the decision by the youth leader in the state, Friday Sani, to ask the Kabawa area to produce someone who would lead them at youth forum any time there was a meeting of youths. It was difficult for the Kabawa boys to agree on who that should be. The statement further aggravated the already tense situation as. This was what led to the tussle between Suraj’s group and M-square group who, our reporter learnt, had been spoiling for a fight, leading to the rekindling of old rivalry.
A source told Weekly Trust that Suraj had made a request to the Lokoja Local Government chairman, Yabagi Bologi, for the control of the revenue accruing from Obajana, a request which Bologi reportedly turned down, claiming that it was for the people of Lokoja LG and not for an individual. This refusal, led to the slapping and beating of the chairman’s wife early this year, according to investigations.
On August 3, 2009, more mayhem ensued when the groups went to a club in Lokoja and had a disagreement. According to one Alidu Abdul, after the incident at the club, the two rival groups went home till the following day when the other faction went back with a gun to where the victim was relaxing and shot him. He died before reaching the hospital.
It was a quest to avenge the death of their member which led to the burning of some cars and untold hardship on citizens, including travellers passing through the state.
The five-day mayhem was in Kabawa area, where a traveller from one of the South-Eastern states said: “As long as politicians continue to treat the issue with kid gloves, we shall continue to remain in this mess.”
The Acting Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Magaji, said calm has returned to the area and that 46 out of those arrested have been remanded in the Koton Karfe Federal Prisons while briefing pressmen over the outcome of the peace meeting between some elders and faction leaders in Lokoja.
Some anti-riot policemen were seen at strategic areas. Worried by this development, Lokoja residents are asking the government to act fast to stem the trend.