Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura is negatively disposed to the idea of granting amnesty to members of the outlawed Ombatse militia organization from the Eggon ethnic group, which killed tens of security agents five months ago.
Speaking with Journalists in Abuja while reacting to “misrepresentations” of his lecture at the Institute for Security Studies, Bwari, Al-Makura reiterated that the criminals and their sponsors must not escape justice.
“Granting amnesty to the occult group would amount to pre-empting the work of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry set up by the state government to ascertain the remote causes of the killing of security personnel in Alakyo, Lafia Local Government Area of the state,” he said.
“As a matter of fact, I feel very worried by this misrepresentation because nothing can be farther from my views, which I said and what was credited to me. In fact, my administration is bent on bringing to book criminals and perpetrators of the dastardly act in Alakyo, which resulted in the killing of security operatives during the operation.
“It is very unfair on me and my government for anybody to insinuate the fact that my government is rooting the idea of amnesty. That is farthest from the truth; we will not have anything to do with amnesty for now because the Judicial Commission of Enquiry is still sitting.”
He added that his administration is awaiting the commission to conclude its exercise so that the people involved can be appropriately prosecuted.
“At no time in the course of my presentation did I ever mention anything to do with the issue of amnesty,” he insisted.
“I insist that these criminals must be fished out and they must not be left unpunished. We are waiting for the commission of enquiry to finalize its sittings. I will like to assure all and sundry that this government is focused and consistent on our search for peace and justice; justice must be done for people who have been offended.
“It is even more disheartening that the misrepresentation came when government is interested in finding the root of the problem to be able to identify who are the culprits, their sponsors and financiers. We have gone all the way to constitute a Judicial Commission of Enquiry do what we can to bring justice and bring the perpetrators to book.”
