Barely a week after an attack that led to the killing of about 19 persons, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on Thursday met with the leaders of Tawari community, promising to fish out the killers.
The governor, who held a peace meeting at the Government House Lokoja with the paramount rulers and people of the Tawari communities, called for calm and assured them that the government was working hard to restore lasting peace to the area.
According to him, the casualty figure has risen to 29, as more deaths were recorded in other communities within the district.
Bello, who acknowledged the peaceful disposition of the Tawari people, noted that the attack took place when there was no provocation.
He stressed that his administration would leave no stone unturned in unmasking those behind the dastardly acts.
Bello assured the victims of timely distribution of relief materials.
He also said that a committee had been set up to begin the distribution.
He added that his government would not fold its arms and watch bandits and terrorists unleash mayhem on the people, insisting that government would adopt security measures that would be mobile and effective to deal with any security challenges across the country.
He explained that the same methods that worked in Dekina, Bassa and Omala local government areas, when they were attacked, would be replicated in Tawari to bring lasting solution to insecurity of the area.
He urged the traditional rulers, youth groups and opinion moulders in communities across the state to join hands with the government to ensure the success of the new security architecture, and rid the state of criminals and people with predatory tendencies.
He directed the youth leaders and the critical stakeholders in the communities to, within 48 hours, furnish his office with the level of damage to individuals for monetary compensation.