Tension as Ndigbo threaten Reprisals over Kogi killings

The Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) said yesterday that the deliberate attack on Christian worshippers by militants of the shadowy Islamist Boko Haram sect risks turning Nigeria to Sudan and charged the National Security Adviser (NSA) to step up to the plate,

failure to which Ndigbo would be forced to engage in reprisal attacks against Muslim targets as an act of legitimate self-defense.

In a statement in Enugu, IYM President Elliot Uko, said despite repeated warnings, Boko Haram has continued their insurgency with attacks targeted at Ndigbo; the latest being Monday's attack of the Deeper Life Church, at Otite in Adavi Local Council of Kogi State, which claimed 20 lives. 'Anybody who is committed towards drawing Ndigbo into the fray might soon succeed, as there is a limit to endurance…' Uko warned in the statement.

Eye-witness accounts said two of the suspected terrorists in flowing gowns entered the church during the Bible Study session and shot randomly at worshippers, who were on a night vigil.   Among the dead was the pastor, Stephen Lambe, a lecturer at Kogi State Polytechnic, Osara campus. He died instantly.

And after killing 18 worshippers evening at a Deeper Life Bible Church, suspected terrorists continued their siege on Okene; striking at a mosque and killing two soldiers. One of the gunmen was allegedly killed during the attack. The armed men came in a Hilux pick-up van chanting Islamic songs before they attacked some Muslims who were holding a Ramadan lecture at the Central Mosque in Okene. The dead soldiers were on surveillance duty at area. The Kogi state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Katsina, who confirmed the death of two soldiers, said the military men killed one of the gunmen.

The Commander, Joint Military and Police Task Force (JTF), Lt-Col. Gabriel Olorunyomi, reportedly alerted Wada of the incident in the middle of a function at the Lugard House, Lokoja. The governor, who broke the 'very sad news' to the gathering, immediately left the hall, which also cut short the programme as guests also exited for fear of the unknown.

The governor, who remained in office till 4.00 am coordinating the state security apparatuses, was said to have briefed President Goodluck Jonathan and the Inspector-General of Police (IG) on the attack. Wada, who visited the church in Otite, reiterated his promise to fish out the terrorists, adding that the blood of those children they killed would be upon them. The governor also visited the injured at the Okene General Hospital and pledged that the state government would foot their medical bills.

Meanwhile, Governor Idris Wada has declared a dusk to dawn curfew in Okene and its environs to forestall the escalation of the crisis. The governor in a statewide broadcast, after cancelling his trip to Mecca for the lesser hajj, vowed to bring the perpetuators of these acts to book. Fear also gripped residents of Lokoja, the state capital over the detection of objects suspected to be bombs. Wada said the decision to impose curfew in the area was taken after due consultation with the security agents, adding that commercial motorcyclists had been restricted 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. until the situation was brought under control.

Movement within Lokoja metropolis was disrupted yesterday following a bomb scare that rocked the city midday. As the rumor spread at 10.00 am, government offices and business places were shut while others scaled down operations. Residents who were yet to get over the news of the attack in Okene remained indoors. School pupils and their parents scampered for safety as stern looking security agents barricaded major roads in Lokoja while commercial transporters declined to ply the Lokoja-Okene route.

A bomb was allegedly detonated near a filling station in Lokongoma Phase Two area. The bomb discovered in the neighborhood, later exploded while experts from the Kogi State Police Command attempted to contain it. No casualty was recorded.

The Liaison Officer, Adavi Local Council, Mouktar Atimah, told Huhuonline.com in Okene that as at Monday night, the official casualty figure was 18 while 14 persons, who were injured rushed to the Specialist Hospital, Lokoja for treatment.

The Okene Overseer of the Deeper Life Church, Pastor Roland Egunjobi, described the incident as the saddest moment of his life. He said most of the worshippers who were killed were children who came out for Bible study with their parents.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Coordinator in Okene, Pastor Omotosho, told reporters that four members of the church had died in various hospitals where they were receiving treatment. He appealed to both the federal and state governments to provide Christians with adequate security in worship places.

Reacting to the killings in Okene, Senate President David Mark asked Nigerians to take the routine check of their environment as important, noting that the communal living of Nigerians was being abused by the terror gang.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologondiyan, Mark said: 'We can no longer take our communal lifestyle for granted.   We should begin to ask questions when we find strange people and strange development around us. 'The dictum of being our brothers' and sisters' keeper has to be re-examined.'