The Minister of Steel development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, weekend, visited Omala, the local government area in Kogi state recently attacked by herdsmen where over 25 people were gruesomely murdered and several injured.
Prince Audu, who was received at the council headquarters in Abejukolo by the chairman, staff, traditional rulers and community leaders, sympathised with the people over the unfortunate situation.
He said as the representative of Kogi state at the Federal Executive Council, it was of great importance for him to personally visit the area to see the level of destruction, understand the root cause of the crisis for best interventions and solutions.
He therefore made a personal donation of 2.5 million naira and some relief items to the victims from Agojeju-Odo community currently living at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp and those in the hospitals.
“As a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I have a sense of duty and obligation to Kogi state and by extension Igala land. So, I have come to Omala today personally to show sympathy and commiserate with my people over the ill-fated incident that befell Agojeju-Odo community which left many of our people dead, with a lot injured.
“Coming here today, I have listened to all that the local government chairman has said. Be sure for me to take this to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Gov Ahmed Usman Ododo for their prompt interventions.
“On personal grounds, I am donating the sum of 3.5 million naira and some relief items to the victims of the attack who are in IDPs camps and hospital as my own support to ameliorate their pains.
“My father, Prince Abubakar Audu, was an individual who loved Igala people. He fought and died for the liberation of Igala and it is a struggle that continues. As the son of Prince Abubakar Audu, no one can love Igala land more than me.
“There are lots of blackmails being peddled around the social media space of which I urge you all to disregard. It is in our interest to put things in place that will move our Igala nation forward,” Prince Audu stated.
Earlier, the council chairman Mark Edibo thanked the minister for his high-level visit to show how much the people mean to him, just like his late father.
In his remarks, His Royal Highness, Paul Achor, acting chairman, Omala Traditional Council and Ogohi of Akpacha also thanked the minister for the visit, saying it has proved himself as a true son of the land.
The Ogohi used the occasion to bestow the title of Olimene Onu Ife of Omala on the minister.
