Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko al-Makura, sought refuge yesterday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja when policemen and State Security Service (SSS) officials were ambushed.
Al-Makura is seeking Federal assistance to dislodge the militia group that is linked to the killing of the security operatives in Alakyo, a village 10 kilometres from Lafia, the state capital.
Also at the Villa was Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, who said herdsmen had invaded a local government, unleashing violence.
Al-Makura and Suswam were received by Vice President Namadi Sambo, who stood in for President Jonathan, who is away in South Africa.
It was gathered that the contingent of policemen and security operatives was deployed in Alakyo village of Lafia East Development Area to raid the shrine of the militia, arrest their leader known as Baba Alakyo, and recover arms stockpiled by the group.
Speaking on the incidence in an interview, the Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Akeremale said: “We decided at the State Security Council meeting, because of the frequent attacks on churches and mosques by this particular group, which is forcing people to swear to oath at the shrine, that we carry out an operation and arrest the perpetrators for prosecution.
“The people; some called them Ombatse, but they call themselves cultural people, ambushed our men and opened fire. The policemen were on operation to raid the place and make arrests, particularly of the chief priest, and other leaders, who have been torturing worshippers in churches and mosques to force them to swear an oath of allegiance to Ombatse.
“The worshippers once tortured and compelled a police inspector to swear allegiance to Ombatse, but the policeman has been freed. He has returned to his duty post.
“We are still after the persons administering the oath forcibly on people. We will make sure we bring the perpetrators to book,” Akeremale said.
Police spokesman Michael Ada admitted that 23 policemen and men of the SSS were killed. Eight patrol vehicles were also burnt.
Ada said: “The casualty we confirmed is 23. They killed and burned 23 policemen and SSS. They also burnt eight patrol vehicles. But our rescue team is still in the bush, and has not returned to give an update.”
However, the injured officers are receiving medical attention at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia.
Al-Makura confirmed that over 20 policemen and security operatives were killed. He said in Abuja: “The position of this militia is unacceptable to the government and we are taking appropriate steps to see that the perpetrators of this act are brought to book.
“I am here to meet with His Excellency, the Vice President, to brief him about the security situation in my state. Just yesterday, we had a very bitter security problem that 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 totally different dimension. They have been going from one place to another, including churches, and taking people of 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, an ambush has been laid for them.
“These people attacked them and this 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, which is from Eggon extraction and called Ombatse (the time has come) has been proscribed since the beginning of this year because of the activities of members. They go from one place to another, harbouring arms, attacking any area that is in 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 information to the federal level so that by the time we begin to take on these perpetrators, nobody should cast aspersions on the justification. Victims of the attacks, those who are security operatives and those who are not, we will see how we can assist their families.”
The same group in 2012, at Nasarawa-Eggon, shot and injured some soldiers and men of the SSS during a raid on one of their shrines on Alogani Hills to make arrests.
Similarly, Suswan disclosed to State House correspondents in Abuja after having a closed-door meeting with Vice President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa that some Fulani herdsmen attacked Agatu Local Government Area of the state leaving “high casualties including women and children.”
The Governor said: “You must have heard that there are serious altercation between the Fulanis and the local farmers.
“This time it happened in Agatu Local Government, which is one of the local governments the Senate President represents; they almost overran the local government.
“There was a lot of killings, a lot of property destroyed and I felt that I should come to brief the vice president, who is holding forth for the President.
“I also discussed other sundry issues relating to the general security situation in the country.”
“We have arrested 10 of them with heavy weapons and many rounds of ammunitions and they are with the police now. The casualty is high, I don’t want to be misquoted as per the numbers, but it is high casualties.”