From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Two first class traditional rulers in the troubled Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi state, have been clamped into detention for their inability to stop the internecine killings and wanton destruction of properties in their domains.
The chiefs who are already cooling their heels behind bars are Ohiegba of Mozum, HRH Khalid Bukar Ali and the Aguma of Bassa kingdom HRH William Keke.
Governor Yahaya Bello who gave order for their arrest, had also placed the Divisional Security Officer DSO of the Local Government Area and some Government appointees under security watch for their roles in the violence that has claimed many lives and properties.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Govenor, Galaticus Onogwu in a press statement in Lokoja over the weekend, confirmed the arrest and said the recent resurgence occured as a result of an alleged murder of an Bassa Komu palm wine tapper .
It was revealed that crisis broke out on Monday May 30, 2022 following the killing of a Bassa Kwomu palm wine tapper, Mr David Daku at Uga Cheure farm near Oguma.
According to the locals, the killing of Mr Daku enraged the Bassa Kwomus who alleged that the Igburra Mozum people would have been behind his death
However, While security agents were still investigating the matter, another Bassa Komu man was said to have been killed same day at Koromu near Udogbo.
On thursday June 2, 2022 another two Bassa Kwomus were said to have been killed at Sheria farm and Korumu village.
According to the villagers , these deaths , sparked hostilities in Udogbo and Mozum towns, in which many have been killed and properties worth millions destroyed.
Meanwhile, the spate of crisis angered Governor Yahaya Bello who has since 2018 vowed to deal ruthlessly with any traditional ruler in Bassa whose community start up any crisis and allegedly ordered for their arrest.
The renewed crisis which stemmed out of the killing of a Bassa Kwomu palm wine tapper did not go well with the state government which was said to have directed its security apparatus to keep the two traditional rulers under house arrest.
However, efforts to release the two traditional rulers proved abortive as the state government is bent on arresting all those fingered in the crisis.