As the death toll in Wednesday’s killing of policemen in Alakyo, Nasarawa State rose to over 100 on Friday, preliminary report from security agencies in Lafia, the state capital, seems to be pointing accusing fingers at Governor Tanko Al-Makura.
It was gathered that Al-Makura’s handling of the ‘Ombatse’ group, which means ‘time has come’ in local Eggon language, resulted in the ambushing and subsequent killing of several policemen deployed to arrest the cultists.
The governor, who was attending the second year in office ceremony of the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, in Owerri, was said to have directed the state Police Commissioner to arrest the group’s spiritual head, simply called “Baba Lakio”, even when there was no crisis.
The Police Commissioner, on the order of the governor, was said to have ordered his men to storm the Alakyo village, not knowing that the cultists were already aware of the plan to raid them.
Prior to this latest attack on the police, security report also indicated that the governor had failed to order the arrest of the cultists even when there were reports that they had been attacking the local farmers in no fewer than 17 villages.
The report, it was learnt, further alleged poor handling of distribution of relief materials to the attacked farmers as it was said to be one-sided.
According to a top security operative, who pleaded anonymity, the Ombatse cult group was said to have been used by the governor to win the last election.
It was further alleged that he brought in some mercenaries from Chad, Mali and Niger to dislodge them when they were getting out of hand after the election.
A visibly disturbed Governor Al-Makura stormed the State House, Abuja on Thursday to brief Vice President Namadi Sambo on the security situation in the state.
He fielded questions from correspondents thereafter.
He said: “We have a very bitter security problem that has caused the death of some security officers in the state.
“Two weeks ago, we discovered a certain militia group holding arms and carrying out cultist activities in the state.
“Since January, this thing has not abated and in the past two weeks, it took a total different dimension.
“They have been going for one place to another, including churches, and taking people for that particular ethnic group to come and take portions that are meant to empower them to do what they want to do.
“This escalated and is causing serious concern for the state.
“We decided to hold security meeting to find a way of solving the problem.
“The solution was to go to the shrine and pick on the cult leader so that the problem will be solved once and for all.
“As security operatives were approaching the shrine, unknown to them that ambush has been laid for them, these people attacked them and resulted in the death of more than 20 policemen.
“This is a situation that is so grave and I feel it is very important that I come to brief the Vice President about the security situation and to seek assistance so that we can handle the matter once and for all.
“Already, the group that is from Eggon extraction and called Ombatse, has been proscribed since the beginning of this year because of the activities of the members.
“They go from one place to another, harbouring arms, attacking any area that has any conflict with any of their members.
“The group is banned and its members are those causing this problem in the state and we feel it is necessary to bring this to the notice of the Federal Government.
“Before now, there were one or two arrests.
“But as a result of yesterday’s event, I am yet to be briefed on the number of arrests that have been made.
“Already, I learnt that security operatives are making arrangements to see how they can contain the situation.
“It is at that point that I will know how many arrests have been made.
“The position of this militia is unacceptable to the government.
“Already, we are taking appropriate steps to see that the perpetrators of this act are brought to book.
“That is why I have given the necessary information at the federal level so that by the time we begin to take on these perpetrators, nobody should cast aspersions on the justification.”
President Goodluck Jonathan, who was in South Africa and billed to proceed to Namibia for a state visit, had to abort the trip to return to Abuja to oversee the security situation.
As at the time of filling this report, the President was presiding over an emergency Security Council Meeting at the Presidential Villa.
Trending
- Flights diverted as fire breaks out at Lagos International Airport
- 118 inmates escape as Suleja custodial centre fence collapses
- How FRSC reduced Road Traffic Crashes by 42% – Corps Marshal
- FCCPC uncovers prices in Yen as it grills Chinese supermarket owners + Photos
- Reporters detained for airing music, taking calls from girls
- German police arrest 11 Nigerians laundering money made from dating scam
- Fernandes digs Man U out of hole in win over Sheff United
- Akintoye to Afenifere: Yoruba wants self-determination, not restructuring