Governor Bago of Niger State | File Image
The state Commissioner for Home Land and Security, Major-Gen Abdullahi Bello (rtd), confirmed the crisis in Kopako community but assured that the issue would be resolved soon.
By Mohammed Usman
Kopako community in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State is experiencing hardtime, as residents continue to relocate over alleged breach of tradition following the imposition of a village head.
The imposition, it was gathered, led to loss of lives and the destruction of properties worth billions of naira.
The age-long tradition is that the office of village head is rotated between the five ruling houses that made up Kopako community.
However, the crisis began after death of the last village head, Mall Muhammed Kuso Gana, in March 2024, who, going by the tradition, would have been succeeded by a man from Zhitsu Gbogbo rulling house.
But that was not to be, as some people maneuvered their way and unilaterally installed Alhaji Mohammed Yisa of Zhitsu Yisa compound against the people’s wishes.
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Some villagers, who spoke to Nigeria News Flight, pointed out that they resisted the temptations of taking the laws into their hands despite the injustices meted out to them.
Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar.jpg | File Image
They recalled how representatives of all the rulling houses approached the Etsu Nupe at Wadata palace, Bida on the April 24, 2024, who after listening to all affected parties directed that Alhaji Mohammed Yisa be removed and replaced by the rightful person from Zhitsu Gbogbo rulling house.
Though the Etsu Nupe and the Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, is aware of the brewing feud and had called for caution, our correspondent gathered that some people were working tirelessly to distort the age-long order of ascension.
In a four-page letter signed by Counsel to one of the ruling houses, Oluwole Oluranti (Esq), tittled, “Complain against threats to life, causing greavious hurt, possession of dangerous weapons,” dated April 27, 2024, to the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, the people said that they were no longer safe as they were being taunted by “some individuals,” who were bent on causing breach of peace by imposing themselves on the people.
The petition, which gave details of mode of producing traditional head among the five Kopako ruling houses, also showed details of the agreement by leaders of the ruling houses affirming their acceptance of rotational headships.
The statement by the lawyer, reads: “This inaction by the police seems to have given the attackers courage to re-group and attack my clients on 25th, 26th and 27th of April without legal actions on the over 20 principal perpetrators of the heinous crimes”.
Oluwole is seeking for the prompt intervention of the security agencies to end the ugly situation and enable his clients go back to their homes.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the receipt of the complaint letter from the aggrieved house on April 29, 2024 but said that the letter had been referred to the SCID Minna for proper investigations.
Also, the state Commissioner for Home Land and Security, Major-Gen Abdullahi Bello (rtd), confirmed the crisis in Kopako community but assured that the issue would be resolved soon.
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