Admiral Usman Oyibe Jibrin (retd.), has condemned the reported attack on an African Democratic Congress (ADC) meeting in Ejule, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, calling on politicians and citizens to embrace love, peace and tolerance.
Jibrin, while reacting to the incident, appealed to political leaders, particularly Igala politicians, to restrain their supporters from acts of violence, warning against the killing and attacking of fellow citizens over political differences.
He also called on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the Ejule incident, fish out those responsible and ensure that anyone found culpable faces justice.
The former naval chief further appealed to traditional rulers across Igala communities to use their positions of influence to encourage their subjects to maintain peace and prevent political disagreements from degenerating into violence within their domains.
Jibrin also urged politicians and other stakeholders to take advantage of the ongoing Truth and Reconciliation Committee process to address grievances, disagreements and other unresolved issues through dialogue rather than confrontation.
Jibrin Condemns Attack on ADC Meeting
The reaction followed the reported disruption of an ADC political meeting in Ejule, where armed men were said to have stormed the gathering, causing participants to flee the venue.
Several people were reportedly injured during the incident, according to accounts contained in The Bureau Journal’s earlier report on the attack on the ADC meeting in Ejule.
The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the identity and motive of the perpetrators, remain matters for investigation by the appropriate authorities.
Jibrin condemned the use of violence in political activities and called on all stakeholders to prevent political competition from becoming a source of bloodshed and division among communities.
He appealed to politicians to remember that political differences should not result in attacks on citizens or supporters of opposing political parties.
Jibrin Appeals to Igala Politicians
A major part of Jibrin’s appeal was directed at politicians from the Igala-speaking communities of Kogi State.
He called on Igala politicians to stop their supporters from attacking and killing fellow citizens, stressing the need for political leaders to take responsibility for the conduct of those who identify with their political causes.
His appeal comes against the backdrop of a series of violent incidents and security concerns reported in parts of Kogi State.
In one of the recent incidents, suspected kidnappers attacked three commercial buses along the Itobe-Achigili-Anyigba highway, abducting passengers in an incident that heightened concerns about security along the route.
Another major incident occurred when Kogi APC Chairman Ishaq Yunusa was killed in a gun attack along the Itobe-Ochadamu Expressway, while another occupant of the vehicle was reportedly abducted.
While those incidents are separate from the reported ADC meeting attack, they form part of the broader security concerns confronting communities and road users in the area.
Jibrin’s appeal is therefore for political leaders to ensure that their supporters do not contribute to an atmosphere in which political disagreements are settled through violence.
‘Stop Attacking and Killing Our People’
Jibrin’s warning against attacks and killings reflects his broader appeal for politicians to place the lives and welfare of citizens above partisan interests.
He urged political actors to discourage their supporters from retaliation, intimidation and other forms of violence, regardless of the political differences involved.
According to his position, political power is temporary, while the people and communities affected by political violence must continue to live together after elections and political contests have ended.
He consequently called for greater responsibility from political leaders and urged them to use their influence to calm tensions rather than exacerbate them.
Security Agencies Asked to Fish Out Perpetrators
Admiral Usman Jibrin also called on security agencies to investigate the Ejule incident and identify those responsible.
He urged the relevant authorities to fish out the perpetrators and ensure that justice is served.
Jibrin’s appeal places emphasis on the importance of establishing the facts surrounding the attack rather than allowing allegations and counter-allegations to deepen political tension.
The identities, motives and affiliations of those responsible should therefore be determined through a proper investigation by the competent security authorities.
This is particularly important in politically sensitive cases, where unverified accusations can easily inflame existing divisions.
The Bureau Journal’s earlier report on the Ejule incident included allegations concerning individuals said to have been connected to the attack. However, such allegations should not be treated as established facts until they are independently confirmed by investigators or competent authorities.
Jibrin’s call for justice consequently applies to the investigation itself: those responsible should be identified based on evidence and dealt with according to the law.
Traditional Rulers Asked to Promote Peace
Jibrin also appealed to traditional rulers to play a more active role in maintaining peace within their domains.
He called on traditional institutions to engage their subjects and reinforce the importance of peaceful coexistence, particularly as political activities intensify.
Traditional rulers occupy an important position within many communities, where they often serve as intermediaries during disputes and provide platforms for dialogue between different groups.
Jibrin therefore urged them to use that influence to encourage their subjects to avoid violence and resolve disagreements peacefully.
He also called for greater communication between traditional institutions, political leaders, community stakeholders and security agencies whenever tensions emerge.
His appeal is that early intervention could prevent political disagreements or isolated confrontations from developing into wider communal crises.
Jibrin Urges Politicians to Embrace Truth and Reconciliation
Beyond the immediate security response to the Ejule incident, Jibrin called on politicians to take advantage of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee process to address grievances and unresolved disagreements.
He urged political actors with outstanding grievances or displeasure to use the committee as an avenue to air their concerns, seek understanding and pursue reconciliation.
Rather than allowing old disagreements to continue influencing political relationships, he encouraged stakeholders to use dialogue to address the issues responsible for their differences.
The appeal is particularly significant as political activity begins to build towards the 2027 elections, when competition among parties and political blocs is expected to intensify.
Jibrin’s position is that reconciliation should not be postponed until political tensions become violent. Instead, grievances should be addressed through structured dialogue while there is still room for engagement.
He urged politicians across the political divide to take advantage of the reconciliation process and openly address whatever displeasure or grievances they may have.
Ejule Attack Comes Amid Wider Security Concerns
The reported attack on the ADC meeting occurred in an area that has experienced several security incidents.
Earlier, the abduction of National Youth Service Corps members travelling through the area generated widespread concern.
In a subsequent development, security forces rescued 15 NYSC members and six other victims following a gun battle with suspected kidnappers.
These incidents have kept security in the Ofu axis under close public attention and reinforced calls for stronger security measures across vulnerable communities and highways.
The reported attack on a political meeting introduces another concern: the need to ensure that citizens can participate in political activities without fear of violence.
Politics Should Not Divide Communities
Jibrin’s intervention is rooted in the argument that political disagreements should not permanently divide communities.
Political parties and candidates will naturally hold different positions, compete for votes and seek support from citizens. But those political differences, he stressed through his appeal, should not destroy the relationships that bind communities together.
For communities in Kogi State, political supporters from opposing camps often remain neighbours, relatives, friends, business partners and members of the same traditional institutions.
Violence therefore has consequences that extend well beyond an election or political meeting.
Jibrin called on politicians to recognise this reality and use their influence to promote restraint, dialogue and peaceful engagement.
Jibrin’s Political Background
Jibrin is not new to Kogi’s political environment.
He contested the November 11, 2023 Kogi State governorship election.
His participation in the election gave him direct experience of the political competition that characterised the state’s last governorship contest.
Since then, he has continued to speak on issues affecting Kogi and its people, including youth development and the need for responsible leadership.
The Bureau Journal previously reported Jibrin’s support for a youth technology initiative in Kogi, where his contribution was associated with a programme focused on digital skills and artificial intelligence.
His latest intervention shifts the focus to peace, security and political reconciliation.
Need for Political Responsibility Ahead of 2027
The Ejule incident comes at a time when political calculations for 2027 are already beginning to take shape.
Political actors are consulting, strengthening structures and mobilising supporters across Kogi State.
The Bureau Journal has also reported on emerging political realignments and power structures in Kogi, reflecting the level of political activity already taking place ahead of the next electoral cycle.
With political competition expected to become more intense, Jibrin’s appeal is for leaders to establish a culture of tolerance before tensions escalate.
He urged politicians to ensure that their supporters understand that political disagreements do not justify violence and that the protection of human life must remain paramount.
Political leaders, he argued through his appeal, have the influence necessary to either calm or inflame political environments, making their conduct and public messaging particularly important during periods of heightened political activity.
Peace Requires Collective Responsibility
Jibrin’s call extends beyond politicians.
Security agencies have a responsibility to protect citizens and investigate reported attacks. Traditional rulers have a role in encouraging peaceful conduct among their subjects. Political leaders must restrain their supporters, while citizens themselves must reject violence and avoid becoming instruments in political confrontations.
Community leaders and civil society groups also have a role in promoting dialogue and reporting emerging threats before they develop into major security incidents.
The APC Chieftain call for politicians to use the Truth and Reconciliation Committee also points to the importance of addressing grievances before they become entrenched.
Reconciliation, in this context, would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss their disagreements openly and search for ways of resolving them without resorting to confrontation.
Justice and Reconciliation
For Jibrin, the pursuit of peace does not mean abandoning accountability.
His simultaneous calls for the perpetrators of the Ejule attack to be identified and for political actors to embrace reconciliation point to two complementary approaches: accountability for alleged criminal acts and dialogue over political grievances.
Those responsible for violence should face due process, while political disagreements should be resolved through legitimate channels.
This distinction is important because reconciliation cannot replace criminal investigation where violence has occurred, just as criminal prosecution alone cannot resolve longstanding political grievances.
A sustainable response therefore requires both lawful accountability and political dialogue.
Jibrin: Let Love and Peace Prevail
As concern over the Ejule incident continues, Jibrin has called on Kogi stakeholders to resist the temptation to allow political differences to become a source of further violence.
He urged Igala politicians to restrain their supporters, security agencies to investigate the incident and bring perpetrators to justice, and traditional rulers to engage their subjects on the importance of peace.
He also encouraged politicians with grievances to take advantage of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee to address their displeasure and seek peaceful solutions.
For Admiral usman Jibrin, the protection of lives and preservation of peace should take precedence over partisan interests.
As Kogi gradually moves towards another electoral cycle, the challenge for political actors will be to sustain competition without allowing political differences to undermine the security and unity of the people.
The Bureau Journal will continue to monitor developments surrounding the Ejule incident and report verified findings from security agencies and other relevant authorities.
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