The judicial panel of enquiry set up by Kogi State Government to investigate attacks on some communities across the state has begun its work with a promise to bring anyone found culpable to justice.
Chairman of the commission, Justice Josiah Majebi made this known when he led other members of the commission on an on-the-spot assessment of the communities.
Speaking on Wednesday in Ojuwo community, a farm settlement bordering Dekina and Bassa Local Government Areas of Kogi State, the chairman assured members of the community of their preparedness to ensure due diligence in the discharge of their duty.
He assured them that the present administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello was also prepared to seeing that anyone fingered to have played any role in the sad incidents was brought to account.
Justice Majebi, who promised that his committee would not shield anybody indicted in the investigation, stressed that members were committed to ensuring lasting solution to the attacks.
The panel chairman, while urging members of the community, especially victims who lost loved ones and property, not to be intimidated or frightened, noted that their submissions would be treated with all seriousness.
The legal luminary took the same message to the people of other affected communities, including Awawa-Iyade and Agbenema in Omala Local Government Area, retstated resolve of the present administration to cushion the impact of the attacks on them.
He realed out the terms of reference of the committee to include assertaining the remote and immediate cause of the attacks, making recommendations to government on the proper punishment to be meted to culprits among others, and solicited support from victims and members of the communities.
He urged them to also help the committee in the recommendation of proper punishment befitting of crimes in the attacks.
In each of the communities, chairman and members met with critical political figures, traditional rulers, youth groups and other stakeholders and explained their mission with the aim of soliciting their cooperation.
On their arrival at Awawa-Iyade in company of the Local Government administrator, Hon Aboh, the committee met with the traditional rulers including the Onuh Abejukolo and the area’s district head, His Royal Highness, Suleiman Abimaje, the traditional ruler of the community, Chief Bala Opaluwa and Wodi Keke.
They explained the essence of their presence in the area in both English and local dialects and sought their cooperation.
The traditional rulers agreed to work hand-in-hand with members of the committee, and thanked Governor Yahaya Bello for the concerns he has shown towards their welfare especially the security of lives and property.
The committee then went on to interview some of the victims of the attacks and informed them on the need to make themselves present when the committee commences its sitting at Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area to formally give their testimonies.
Thereafter, the committee in company of the surveyors and valuers sent to assist the commission then took careful enumeration of properties destroyed in the attacks.
