By Kei Emmanuel Duku
In a bold move to restore law and order, the Commissioner of Terekeka County, Dr. Emmanuel Loku Lodu, has officially declared war on the county’s most notorious criminals, specifically targeting a fugitive known by his single name as ‘Jelle’ who has long terrorized the region.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the two-day Mundari Cultural Conference held from January 13th to 14th, 2026, Dr. Lodu delivered a stern warning to cattle raiders and armed militants.
The conference, themed “We Mundari got strengthened in our culture,” served as a platform for the Commissioner to unveil a rigorous security roadmap designed to dismantle criminal networks that have fueled disunity within the Mundari community.
The Commissioner revealed that a recent high-level security consultative meeting held in Koda, identified cattle raiders as the primary architects of conflict in the county. In a radical resolution to curb the violence, traditional elders and county authorities agreed that any cattle raider caught in the act should face the ultimate penalty.
“Elders resolved that cattle raiders, once apprehended, should be killed,” Dr. Lodu stated. He acknowledged that while the national law prohibits extrajudicial killing, the community has passed a majority resolution to implement “eye-for-an-eye” justice to restore sanity. “Because this was a resolution agreed upon by the community, it will be implemented to ensure that those who kill are equally held to account,” he added.
Central to this crackdown is Reggo Payam, which the Commissioner identified as the most dangerous flashpoint in Terekeka. The area is reportedly under the grip of a notorious cattle rustler named ‘Jelle,’ whose gang has been responsible for raiding livestock and the cold-blooded killing of civilians in neighboring payams.
“Jelle’s criminal behavior has left a trail of suffering for our pastoralists and local populations,” Dr. Lodu told the gathering. He warned that if Jelle is not brought to book, peace and unity will remain elusive in Reggo as neighboring communities are constantly driven toward retaliatory attacks to recover their stolen property. “I have promised the traditional chiefs that I will arrest him. He will face the full weight of the law,” the Commissioner assured.
The security sweep has also extended to Tombek Payam, where authorities identified four other prominent fugitives. These suspects recently fled Tombek and sought refuge in Nyangwara land. While Nyangwara leaders had previously been hesitant to hand over the suspects, Dr. Lodu confirmed that a breakthrough was reached during the conference.
“The Nyangwara leaders present our pervious meeting have now agreed to hand over these thieves to the county leadership. I assure you that between today and tomorrow, you will receive feedback that these fugitives have been arrested and handed over to the relevant authorities,” the Commissioner said.
The Commissioner further addressed the complex security situation in Rejong Payam, which he described as a combined haven for both cattle raiders and armed militants. Despite the presence of armed groups, Dr. Lodu noted that the names of all suspects in Rejong have been documented. He appealed for total cooperation between traditional chiefs and security forces to flush out the criminals.
In Tindilo Payam, the Commissioner attributed the rise in crime to its proximity to borders with other states. However, he maintained that the situation remains manageable if the Mundari people remain united. He emphasized that while the government is prepared to act, peace cannot be sustained without the active contribution of the local population.
Closing his address, Dr. Lodu criticized the previous administrative decentralization that expanded the county to ten payams, arguing that the creation of boundaries based on tribal lines such as in Mangala, Nyori, Terekeka all under Bari and the various Nyangwara and Kobri payams has served as a catalyst for conflict.
“This kind of division is a major cause of our internal conflicts,” Dr. Lodu concluded. “I am currently conducting consultations and will soon revise the system to return to the older administrative boundaries to ensure better governance and security.”