The Kogi State Government has ordered the Dekina Local Government Council, Dekina Traditional Council, security heads, and other stakeholders in Kogi East to collaborate and apprehend the vandals responsible for stealing valuable broadcast equipment from the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation in Ochaja.
Kingsley Fanwo, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, on Monday, issued a directive to stakeholders at a meeting in Anyigba, urging them to work together to identify and bring to justice the individuals responsible for the vandalism at the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation.
He pledged that the state government would spare no effort in tracking down and prosecuting the culprits, and also take measures to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future.
Fanwo, however, promised that the government would revamp and bring back the station on air, adding that Governor Usman Ododo had shown commitment.
“The incessant vandalism of the station is disheartening and must be addressed properly. This is the second time in a year that this station has been vandalised and it is not a good narrative for our dear state in general and Kogi East in particular. It is self-destructive to destroy what serves you.
“The government will not fold its arms while a few disgruntled elements try to put up conducts that tend to paint our state in a destructive light. Kogi East people are wonderful people who cherish the services rendered by our broadcasting station here.
“As an administration, we will do everything possible to apprehend the perpetrators to avert future occurrence. We will not close down this station. Our people in Kogi East must not accept being cut off from civilisation by criminal elements that do not represent the noble race called Igala.
“Early reports from ongoing investigations show some elements of sabotage by disgruntled elements. We urge security agencies to intensify their efforts to fish out the perpetrators,” Fanwo said.
The commissioner urged the royal fathers to show more concern about security in their domains, saying criminals also lived in communities.
“Criminals live and plot all their operations in communities. Communities have a big role in protecting government property within their domains. We seek the cooperation of our royal fathers to assist the government in this regard,” he said.
The commissioner assured the Igala people that the radio station would soon be back on air, as the governor had shown dedication to that effect.
He commended the Dekina Council Chairman, John Ikani, for his dedication to security in the local government area, and vowed that the government would continue to support him to deliver good governance to the people.
The Ejeh of Dekina and Chairman of Dekina Local Government Traditional Council, Alhaji Usman Obaje, expressed appreciation to the governor for his commitment to bringing the station back on air.
He said concerted efforts would be made towards ensuring the security of the station.
Ikani said security agencies were on top of the situation, adding that the arrested suspects would soon be charged in court.
He said his administration placed security on the front burners in the council while assuring that adequate measures had been put in place to avert future occurrences.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Egume Division, Mr Baganjiya Charles, said investigations were ongoing as some suspects were already giving useful information to the police.
The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by a diverse group of individuals, including Ojo Oyila, Director-General of the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation; Teddy Adegbola, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications; traditional rulers from Dekina Local Government Area; heads of security agencies in Dekina LGA, and other key stakeholders.
Before the meeting, Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo and his team conducted a site visit to the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation to assess the damage and destruction caused by the vandalism.
