Nasarawa massacre: Death toll hits 121

•Slain policemen’s wives shut down federal roads as families search for missing police, Army, DSS operatives
•Reps condemn attack, seek probe
From CHUKS AKUNNA, JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, MOLLY KILETE, IHENACHO NWOSU, IHEANACHO NWOSU, Abuja and ABDULAHI SHUAIBU, LAFIA.
Death toll in Wednesday’s massacre in Alakyo village, Nasarawa State rose to 121 yesterday, even as more facts emerged on the attack. The bizarre incident also forced President Goodluck Jonathan to call off his planned visit to Namibia yesterday.
He was in South Africa for the World Economic Forum. A source told Daily Sun that about 100 policemen, 10 Department of State Security (DSS) operatives, and 20 soldiers may have been killed during the massacre, but nine policemen returned safely, bringing the casualty figure to 121. They were ambushed by the Ombatse cult group.
Hints also emerged that the state government may not have handled the situation properly. Governor Tanko Al-Makura was in Imo State for the second year anniversary of his colleague, Owelle Rochas Okorocha during the attack.
Meanwhile, over 100 bodies were displayed at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia for identifications by friends and relatives at about 12:30 pm. Wives, friends and relatives of the slain policemen were at the mortuary trying to identify their loved ones who were burnt beyond recognition. The state police command’s spokesman, Mr. Michael Adah, a Deputy Superintendent, confirmed that more dead bodies were discovered, but declined further comments.
The police officers’ widows barricaded the ever-busy Akwanga –Lafia Road, thereby obstructing vehicular movements between the North and southern parts of the country.
As at 9 am, the women and their children blocked the federal road at Mobile 38 Akwanga, protesting the killings of their husbands and bread-winners by the Eggon militia in Lakyo village, Lafia Local Government Area.
It took the intervention of police, soldiers and other security agents before vehicles were allowed free movement. When Daily Sun visited the area, the widows, children, and other dependants of the late policemen wore black clothes.
They were crying. One of the widows who refused to disclose her name, said that her husband left home on Tuesday evening and just a few hours later, she was told that he had been killed by the militia. Meanwhile, following the killings of policemen in Plateau, Nasarawa, Bayelsa and Borno states, the Inspector-General of Police(IGP), Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, has ordered Commanders of the various police formations across the country to end the reign of terror and lawlessness.
He has directed Field Commanders and Special Units including Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to harness all resources available within their domain to bring the perpetrators of the brutal acts to book in the shortest possible time.
He said: “We consider the attacks not just attacks on the Nigeria Police and its officers and men, but attacks on the collective will of Nigerians to protect and preserve our dear fatherland; this, we have vowed to put an end to.”
A statement by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said consequent upon the attacks, “the IGP has directed all Field Commanders and Special Units including Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to harness all resources available within their domain in ensuring that this reign of terror and lawlessness is brought to an end, “he said.
The statement further stated that “the Nigeria Police Force working in conjunction with all positive-minded Nigerians, will do everything within its powers to fish out and bring to book all those involved in this and other similar killings of law enforcement agents. “ We must put an end to this endless circle of impunity.
Enough is enough,” the statement added. In a related development, President Jonathan has cut short his visit to South Africa and aborted his state visit to Namibia which was due to start yesterday, to return to the country as a result of heightened security situation in some parts of the North in recent days. His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the President was returning to Abuja immediately to personally oversee efforts by national security agencies to contain the fresh challenges to national security which have emerged this week in Borno, Plateau and Nasarawa states.
“President Jonathan will on arrival, meet the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and heads of national security services on arrival to review the security situation in the country, he said”.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday condemned the Nasarawa’s killings. The Lower Chamber in a resolution on a motion moved under a Matter of Urgent National Importance by Mr Haruna Kigbu, representing Nasarawa in the House, called on the federal and Nasarawa State governments to consider dialogue against the use of force. It also resolved to send a special delegation to commiserate with the state and families of victims.
A minute silence was observed in honour of the slained personnel. The House urged the state government to constitute a judicial panel of inquiry to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the clash. Kigbu stated that the state has not known peace since January 2013 due to crises, leading to loss of scores of lives. While condemning the action of the cult group, the lawmaker, however, appealed to the police to ensure there was no reprisal attack.
He said: “If the Federal Government does not assist Nasarawa State Government to maintain security and amicably resolve their communal differences, this may lead to further breakdown of peace and order”. Members, including Deputy Leader of the House, Messrs Leo Ogor, Farouk Lawan, Ezekiel Adaji and Beni Lar, condemned the taking of arms against security forces doing their constitutional jobs. “It is criminal for anybody to take up arms against security forces in the line of duty,” Lawan stated.