By Ezra Ukanwa, Abuja

AHEAD of the November 11 gubernatorial election in Kogi State, a group, Kogi East Patriotic Association (KOEPA) has advised politicians against perpetrating violence and give room for a peaceful election.

This was as the group expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that violence has become the focus as the state continues its preparations for the election.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Convener of KOEPA, Brendan Kuyowa Okolo said as bonafide citizens of Kogi State from Kogi East, it is their desire to see a peaceful and credible election in our dear state. 

“We have been monitoring developments in the state since the beginning of the campaign for the Kogi State governorship election and the trend of campaign of ethnic divisionism and violence has not escaped our attention”, he stated.

He said recently, a senior Police officer was almost lynched allegedly by suspected thugs of politicians in the state.

“We must call on the highest authorities of the Nigeria Police to swiftly arrest all individuals who were involved in that dastardly act”, he noted.

Additionally, he expressed his frustration that these politicians who commit such acts of violence continue to roam freely in the state without any arrests being made to hold them accountable for their heinous deeds.

The KOEPA convener however said that the people in Kogi East are getting fed up with all these violent shenanigans and if the Police and the state government refuse to do the needful, the people of Kogi East will have no choice than to effect a citizens’ arrest of of the suspected perpetrators of the violence and hand them over to the authorities.