Barely 24 hours before the 2023 general election, the Kogi State Police Command announced the arrest of several workers from the CCECC construction company. These workers were caught destroying roads leading to the Kogi Central Senatorial District. Allegations surfaced that the state government had engaged these workers to sabotage the roads, thereby obstructing access for officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders. The campaign organization of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a senatorial candidate from the Peoples Democratic Party, raised concerns, claiming that some of the arrested workers confessed to their involvement in the destruction.
In a statement issued on Friday, the state government countered these claims, asserting that the road destruction was a security measure aimed at preventing terrorists from accessing that part of the state. Some of the arrested workers, who were caught digging pits on major access roads to Okehi Local Government Area, stated that they were commissioned by the Okehi Local Government Chairman, Abdulraheem Ohiare, and directed to carry out the task by Mr. Toni, the Project Manager for CCECC in Kogi State. During interrogation, one worker named Ismail identified himself as a staff member of CCECC, while another, Sheidu, claimed to work at the Kogi State Ministry of Works and admitted to the collaboration between the two entities to block access roads in Kogi Central ahead of the elections.
At the time of reporting, CCECC had already excavated pits on four major access roads in Okehi Local Government Area. Additional reports indicated that the company had conducted similar operations in four other local government areas within Kogi Central. Kingsley Fanwo, the state Commissioner for Information, explained that the excavation of these roads was a deliberate security measure designed to limit traffic and restrict access for criminals who had been disrupting the peace in the area. He referenced a recent explosion at the Okehi Local Government Secretariat Complex and another incident in Okene on December 29, 2022, during President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state, assuring the public that security agencies had managed to prevent any loss of life from the recent blast.
Fanwo emphasized that one of the strategies implemented was to limit the number of routes to potential flashpoints, allowing security agents to conduct effective surveillance on remaining access roads to ensure the safety of citizens, particularly as they prepared to vote on February 25, 2023. He expressed gratitude to the state Ministry of Works and Urban Development for their proactive measures regarding the roads. In response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s criticisms regarding the road situation, Fanwo remarked that her concerns seemed to disregard the safety of the people, accusing her of politically motivated blackmail against the state government for taking necessary protective actions.
He warned those involved in sponsoring terrorism within the state to cease their activities, stating that security agents had gathered sufficient evidence to apprehend the masterminds behind recent violent incidents. Fanwo noted that some individuals involved in the Okene blast had already been arrested and were providing valuable information to security forces. He reassured the public that the administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello would not compromise security for political gain and would take decisive action against criminal elements undermining the peace of the Ebira Nation.
As a government, Fanwo reiterated their primary responsibility to protect the people of Kogi. He acknowledged that sometimes drastic measures are necessary, even if they cause temporary discomfort. He pointed out that neither INEC nor security agencies had reported issues accessing any part of Okehi Local Government or Kogi Central. He questioned why Akpoti-Uduaghan was advocating on behalf of INEC when the organization has its own communication channels.
The state government urged residents to dismiss allegations suggesting the use of local militias to intimidate voters, labeling such claims as fabrications by those seeking to instigate panic and chaos due to political desperation. They assured the people of Kogi Central and the state as a whole that adequate security arrangements were in place to protect voters before, during, and after the elections. The only individuals who should be concerned, they stated, are the criminals who would not be tolerated in the state.
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