Kogi East Elders Forum has called on the federal government to pay attention to the growing insecurity in the state ahead of the November 11 governorship poll.

The group said the harassment of citizens by sponsored thugs, security agents and “other means and by whoever must stop forthwith.”

The spokesman for the group, Ali Ocheni, made the call at a news conference organised by the forum in Abuja on Tuesday.

“We call on the federal government to pay attention to the goings on in Kogi because any breakdown of law and order in the state will not augur well for Nigeria,” Mr Ocheni said.

He said campaign offices and billboards were being vandalised, alongside property allegedly belonging to members of the opposition political parties.

Mr Ocheni cited the “extra-judicial” killing of one Kabiru Bala (aka Okwo) for allegedly changing political camp barely a few weeks after suspected political thugs razed down his hotel.

According to him, a woman, Atima Abdullahi, was incidentally murdered in cold blood during the attack on Bala.

“For the purpose of a reminder, Kogi shares boundaries with 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

“We call on the federal government to ensure a level playing field for all contestants in the election through the appropriate mechanisms,” the forum said.

Mr Ocheni further said that petitions on the ugly political developments in the state had been sent to all relevant government offices, demanding quick actions to rescue Kogi.

He alleged that certain heads of security agencies in the state had been compromised and demanded their immediate redeployment out of Kogi.

(NAN)