THE SWORD AND THE BLOOD — A Call for the Healing of Igala Land
Comrade Enemona Abel Ellah
08063147574
Salisu Rainbow died by the sword,
Osama died by the sword,
Ogwu Araka died by the sword,
Abuh Tubless died by the sword,
Ogwor Kabir Bala of Ejule died by the sword,
Arome Egah of Idah died by the sword,
Onneh of Ibaji died by the sword,
Zekeriyau’s death remains mysterious,
Ismaila too died by the sword…
These are not random names. They were once feared, powerful, and celebrated within our communities. Yet their end came in the same violent manner they lived. Their deaths are not coincidences but consequences — reminders that the law of karma and Ibegwu justice are still active in Igala land.
THE COLLAPSE OF CONSCIENCE IN IGALA LAND
Insensitivity and hypocrisy have now taken over the moral structure of the Igala nation. We have become a people who glorify violence, celebrate thuggery, and insult truth-tellers. The Igala Kingdom, once known for courage, wisdom, and unity, has become an uncivilized political elite and political battlefield — a land soaked in the blood of its own sons.
Our ancestors used to be proactive in solving our problems. The Igala people of the past didn’t wait for others to speak for them — they took responsibility for their destiny. But today, we have replaced integrity with ignorance, celebrate artificial and face accountability with emotion.
We hate truth. We destroy whoever dares to speak it. We treat our wounds by adding new wounds — deceiving ourselves that the land will heal while we continue to pour more blood upon it.
Insecurity has now become a culture in Kogi East. From Idah to Ankpa, Anyigba to Ejule, kidnapping, killings, cultism, and political violence are now part of daily life.
Today political representative in kogi East are APC one party but faced to unite and dill with the issue affecting the nation and blame opposition for disrespecting them.
THE EVOLUTION OF THUGGERY IN IGALA POLITICS
Thuggery in Igala land did not start today. It has deep roots in our political history — roots watered by power, money, and manipulation. Political actors are only taking advantage of what already existed in our character as a people — the thirst for domination, recognition, and loyalty at all costs. Whether we like it or not, that is the bitter truth.
During Prince Abubakar Audu’s reign, he identified the energy in these young men and tried to redirect it. He gave many of them Local Government jobs and transferred them outside their home LGAs to prevent abuse of power and intimidation. He wanted them to learn discipline and focus on building a career instead of wasting their lives on street violence.
Alhaji Ibrahim Idris (Ibro)’s era, the approach changed. Thugs were not reformed; they were empowered with money and political and government protection. That was when the deadly race for identity and supremacy began — each thug fighting to be seen as the most powerful and most loyal to government interests.
THE RESULT? BLOOD. FEAR. AND CHAOS.
All this people aboved are killed by the same people in the party in power or when they turn against the government they once work for.
In Idah, for instance, Arome Egah was brutally murdered in broad daylight. Ibro once loyalist thugs.
His lifeless body was displayed in front of the School of Health as a warning to others thugs. His “offense” was that he dared to challenge the governor’s convoy. That gruesome murder opened a new chapter of fear, and many young men began to see violence as the only route to fame and money.
THE REIGN OF FEAR IN EJULE, ANYIGBA, AND DEKINA
In Idah, Ajaka, Ejule, Anyigba, and Dekina, thuggery became a competition — a fight for supremacy and recognition. Who controls more boys? Who owns more guns? Who gets more attention from politicians? That became the new order.
And the consequence is still with us today. From generation to generation, these killings have continued, forming a chain of death that refuses to break.
We all witnessed how the likes of Salisu Rainbow, Osama, Ogwu Araka, Abuh Tubless, Ogwor Kabir Bala of Ejule, Arome Egah of Idah, Onneh of Ibaji, Zekeriyau, Ismaila, and many others perished. These men once inspired fear — but today, their names inspire pity and regret.
Thugs continue to exchange their secrets of power for supremacy
THE VOICE OF THE ANCESTORS AND THE LAW OF KARMA
My Igala brothers and sisters, let us remember — Ibegwu and the law of karma are real. The gods of our land are not asleep.
Every drop of innocent blood shed cries for justice. The land is angry. The ancestors are restless.
No matter how we pretend, we cannot progress until we accept our collective guilt and take responsibility for our past actions. We must stop blaming others — not GYB, not Ebira, not outsiders — but ourselves.
We are the architects of our destruction. Only when we admit this truth withbforgiveness and progress return to the Igala kingdom.
THE RISE, DECLINE, AND RESURRECTION OF THUGGERY
Under Capt. Idris Ichala Wada, the tide of political thuggery began to decline. He deliberately minimized their influence because low patronage and focused on peace. That is why the 2015 election was relatively peaceful compared to previous years.
However, cultism and youth violence began to grow in towns like Idah, Anyigba, and Ankpa — where even children were joining rival gangs and killing one another like wild animals.
The traditional rulers failed their own part as community leaders who mediated between government and community
Then came Alhaji Yahaya Bello (GYB). Through his strong political ally CEDO, thuggery was reborn in 2019. They released men like Ogwor Kabir Bala of Ejule and others from prison to serve as political enforcers for the APC.
That decision brought blood back to our streets and blood politics in 2023.
The 2019/2023 elections in Kogi East became a theatre of blood tragedy:
Hon. Salome Abuh was burnt alive in her home at Ochadamu, Ofu LGA.
A PDP councillor was shot dead in Ward 5, Innele, Olamaboro LGA.
Dozens of youths were killed across kogi East (Ejule and Anyigba) in politically motivated violence.
Ogwor kabir Bala was killed by the same people who released him from prison to work for them in 2019 election and turn against them in 2023
All because politicians needed men who could kill to help them retain power.
THE PRICE OF POLITICAL WICKEDNESS
Those who brought thuggery back to our land did not just empower killers; they reopened wounds that had started to heal.
They have destroyed the moral foundation of our society. They turned politics into war and elections into bloodbaths. The “Enemuneme agenda” has empowered insecurity, kidnapping, herdsmen attacks, and armed robbery in kogi East.
Today, the fear that grips the people of Kogi East is not from outsiders but from our own brothers — the same sons of Igala who have turned their guns against their kin.
THE ROAD TO HEALING — Confession, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation
If the Igala nation must rise again, we must begin a spiritual and social cleansing.
This is beyond politics — it is about survival and redemption.
Bodies like the Igala Cultural and Development Association (ICDA), Ukomu Igala Organization, and other community platforms must initiate a formal process of confession, forgiveness, reconciliation, and inclusiveness.
Each Local Government in Kogi East must hold a Peace and Truth Forum — where politicians, youths, elders, and victims speak openly about their pain, confess their wrongs, and forgive one another.
It is only when we cleanse our conscience that the land will stop bleeding.
THE PATH FORWARD — A UNITED IGALA NATION
The time has come for respected Igala elders and intellectuals to mediate among our political candidates. Let them reason together, build a unified front, and present one strong, credible candidate that represents the collective interest of the Igala people — not the interest of individual godfathers.
Our constant insults, social media wars, and blame games will not bring change. Only unity, forgiveness, and discipline will.
Thugs should never again be the face of campaigns in Kogi East. We do not need violence to win elections; we need conscience, unity, and commitment to the truth.
Elections are not wars. They are opportunities to prove maturity, not madness.
If the Igala people agree to stand together — if we speak with one voice and vote for peace — no force can stop our victory and restoration.
FINAL WORDS
Let this message echo in the hearts of all Igala sons and daughters:
No kingdom built on blood can stand forever.
We must reject the politics of blood, hatred, and revenge. We must rise again as a people of peace, wisdom, and pride — true descendants of the great Attah Abutu Ejeh, Ayegba and Oma Idoko, Ocheje ONUKPA, Nokwa, Oguche Akpa, Ameh Oboni and others.
Only then shall the curse be lifted. Only then will God, and our ancestors, smile upon Igala land again.
Comrade Enemona Abel Ellah
A Philosopher of Truth and a Voice of our ancestors for the Healing of the Igala Nation
08063147574