Group calls for investigation into alleged human rights abuses, killings during Yahaya Bello’s tenure in Kogi

A Kogi-based group, under the aegis of Confluence Patriot, has urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to order an investigation into the alleged abuse of human rights by the former governor, Yahaya Bello.

The group described the past eight years administration of Bello, as miserable, which witnessed a the high number of killings and the absence of perceived political opponents.

The group in a statement, which was made available to DAILY POST in Abuja on Monday by the Secretary to the Executive Committee of the group, Abdulwahab Omeiza, recalled the burning alive of a female chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Salome Abuh, in Kogi East during the election that returned Bello into his second term of office in 2019.

The group said the past governor’s silence over the ugly incident for the rest of his tenure was the inhuman as well as other abuses, which of there was no investigation, posterity would leave a negative vacuum.

The statement said: “During the eight-year administration of former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, there were several human rights abuses leading to the loss of lives and property of innocent citizens of Kogi State.

“It is necessary to state here that some political opponents of Bello were either killed or declared missing, with their whereabouts still unknown even as this press statement is issued.

“A good example of this is the burning to death of Mrs Salome Abuh, a PDP woman leader and the disappearance of the PDP Party Chairman of Okene, who have been missing since the last four years and most recently, the killing of four persons, including two serving police officers attached to one Alhaji Sheik Jubril, the Social Democratic Party Director General, in the 2023 governorship election.”

The Confluence Patriots further commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the ongoing prosecution of the former governor, urging the agency not to succumb to political and media blackmail as corruption in Kogi State was glaring to all.

“It is pertinent to note that corruption remains a significant obstacle to Nigeria’s development, hindering economic growth and eroding public trust in institutions.”