Governor Alhaji Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State announced on Wednesday the arrest of those responsible for the recent crisis in Bagana, Omala Local Government Area, which claimed about 25 lives last week.

The perpetrators, suspected to be armed herdsmen, not only caused loss of lives but also extensive damage to property worth millions of naira within the community.

Addressing journalists after the Eid-el-Fitri prayers at the Okene Central Prayer Ground, the governor stated that both the culprits and their sponsors had been apprehended. He stressed that an ongoing investigation is underway to determine the extent of involvement of those detained.

In response to critics of his administration, Governor Ododo dismissed them as “noisemakers” and individuals lacking a stake in governance, emphasizing that his mandate does not include engaging with such individuals.

“The Bagana crisis in Omala Local Government Area is not a recent occurrence but dates back to 1978, spanning over 45 years. Our administration is diligently working to restore peace to the area,” the governor declared.

He further revealed that suspected sponsors have been captured, with investigations ongoing. These arrests have yielded valuable information expected to lead to the capture of additional suspects. Once the investigation concludes, the findings will be made public.

However, Governor Ododo refrained from disclosing the exact number of suspects currently in custody.