From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Attah Igala and President, Kogi state traditional Council, HRM Matthew Alaji Opaluwa has called on the displaced people of Bagana communities in Omala Local Government Area of the state to return home as necessary measures have been put in place to ensure their safety.
The Monarch who gave the assurance in a meeting held recently in his palace at Idah with some royal fathers from kogi East said returning home has be come necessary in a quest to permanently resolve the crisis.
The royal father, expressed his unhappiness at the failure of Onu Otutubatu, Chief Salifu Anyebe to build his palace at the tomb of Abutu -Aje, the progenitor of Attah Igalas adding that the absence of the palace at the shrine has made the gods/ ancestors to be angry with the land.
The Attah therefore directed the relocation of Onu Otutubatu and Ihankpe Palaces from Bagana to their respective domains, the District Head of Bagana, Alih Haruna should return home to provide leadership for the people, even as chief Salifu Anyebe should mend fences with Onu Ife, HRH Boniface Musa, for peace to reign.
He, however, warned the Agatu Militias from Benue state who are allegedly terrorising the people of Bagana and its environs to desist, saying their continued attack on the people would amount to the declaration of war against Igala kingdom.
In his reaction,the Ojogba of Ife , HRH Boniface Musa assured that the latest intervention by Attah Igala is capable of returning lasting peace and security to the Communities.
In their seperate contributions, the representatives of Hausa/ Nupe /Fulani , Alhaji Ismaila Umar , Woman leader , Hajia Lami Audi , Pastor Peter Peace of Ihankpe Clan, Alhaji Yusufu Abuh commended HRH Onuh Ife, Boniface Musa and Attah Igala , HRM Matthew Alaji Opaluwa for their tireless efforts to resolve the communal and Chieftaincy crises.
Present in the meeting were, HRH Onu Ibaji, Ajofe John Egwuemi, Ejeh Ugwolawo, Akuh Obaje, Ogohi Anyigba, Alhaji Shaibu Okolo ; Onuh Ankpa, Abdulmalik Umar and Onuh Ife , Boniface Musa and all the traditional rulers in Omala LGA including Chief Salifu Anyebe respectively.
Recall that the Bagana Crisis which started in 2012 as Fulani Herders and farmers clashes, snowballed into tribal and clannish cleansing that has reduced the communities to rubbles, with heavy humanitarian crisis.
Successive administrations from Gov. Ibrahim Idris, Idris Wada and the present administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello have directed the Onu Otutubatu, Salifu Anyebe and Onu Ihankpe clan, to relocate their palaces from Bagana to their domains as part of measures to end the crisis but was not hearkened to.
