Security operatives in Lafia and families of the 20 policemen who met their untimely death in the hands of Ombatse Group, a secret cult in Nasarawa State have accused Governor Ibrahim Tanko Al-Mukura of complicity, alleging that his poor handling of the crisss should be blamed for the escalation of the violence.
Governor Al-Makura who was away in Owerri, Imo State for Governor Rochas Okorocha’s second year Anniversary, had allegedly ordered the Commissioner of Police to arrest Baba Lakio, the witch doctor and spiritual head of the Ombatse Cult at a time when there was no crisis.
But rather than invite the cult leader, the Police allegedly loaded several trucks with armed men and headed for the village, oblivious that the group already had information of the planned invasion of the village, which led to the ambush where the 20 policemen were killed.
A security report about to be turned in from Nasarawa State is blaming the escalation of violence on the one-sided handling of the crisis by the governor, who refused to order the arrest of the mercenaries that have continuously hidden under the umbrella of grazers to attack local farmers in 17 villages.
The report alleged that it was the poor handling that led to the non-arrest of the mercenaries, even as relief materials were sent to only side of the conflict.
A top security source in Lafia however claimed that the bloodbath was the outcome of a struggle for supremacy between Ombatse Cult, which assisted the governor during the last election, and mercenary militia group from Chad, Mali and Niger who were allegedly brought in by the government to dislodge the cult group.
The source alleged that Governor Al-Makura was initiated into the cult group, which started as a thuggery enterprise but later metamorphosed into a cult before the last election, leading to the governor’s emergence after his visit to the shrine
It was revealed that the invasion of Lakio Village sparked so much violence because the governor, who is accused of supporting the mercenaries, plotted to use security forces to attack his former cult members for purely political reasons.
The report also pointed that the governor’s anger against the cult group followed recent clashes between the mercenaries and cult members in his home town of Kwandere, where the mercenaries were reportedly camped.
According to the security sources, Governor Al-Makura,through his elder brother who is a traditional ruler, provided a fertile ground for these mercenaries who often cause communal wars that have been largely unreported in the last six months.
It was learnt that the mercenaries who are allegedly supporting the governor’s 2015 reelection bid have so far attacked and destroyed many farm settlements in both Nasarawa South and North Senatorial zones.
This low-intensity war in Nasarawa State has led to clashes between grazers and farmers in the affected areas. The grazers are mainly fulanis while the farmers include Eggon, Alogo, Ato, Agalu, Mada, Migili and Tiv communities. Some of the areas reportedly destroyed include Bassa, Anita, Angiri, Agbashu, Alago, Duduguru, Burumoupum and Yelwa. Meanwhile, some family members of the deceased policemen are bitter that the governor used their spouses to fight his selfish political battles.
Reacting, Governor, Al-Makura denied any complicity in the crisis. “We have a very bitter security problem that has caused the death of some security officers in the stat,” he said while briefing Vice President Namadi Sambo.
“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 it 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.”
Continuing, he said, “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 on that point that I will know how many arrests have been made.
“The incident happened in a village called Alakyo about 10km from Lafia, the state capital. 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 informational at the federal level so that by the time we begin to take on these perpetrators, nobody should cast aspersions on the justification.”
