The death toll from Tuesday’s attack on policemen by a cultist group, Ombatse, in Nasarawa State yesterday hit 100.
This is even as a group of policemen assigned to convey the corpses of their colleagues killed in Bama, Borno State, by Boko Haram Islamic sect yesterday went violent, shot a medical doctor and mortuary attendants and also destroyed a laboratory at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH.
The death toll from the Lakyo village attack in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, National Mirror learnt, was based on the discovery of more bodies of both the police and villagers who were caught in the crossfire. Nasarawa State Police Commissioner, Mr. Abayomi Akeremale, confirmed that the bodies of 30 policemen killed by the cultists had been recovered.
The police commissioner also said that nine patrol vehicles were burnt, while 17 officers on the patrol team were yet to be found. He said that about 60 police officers came under attack on Tuesday. “We decided to send our men to the area to arrest members of Ombatse, including their priest.
Bodies of some the policemen killed and burnt by gunmen in Nasarawa State.
“They have been going to churches and mosques initiating people into their cult, forcibly administering an allegiance oath to unwilling people,” he said The police were attacked near a shrine dedicated to the traditional deity of the Eggon people. Investigation by National Mirror revealed that the casualty could be higher, going by the scale of the attack. National Mirror learnt that among the policemen killed was an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, simply identified as Mommoh.
He was said to be the first person to be shot dead by the cultists and dismembered. It was gathered that the bulk of the policemen who were on that tragic assignment were those affected in the recent mass transfer exercise carried out by the state police command to other parts of the state.
When our correspondent visited the Dalhatu Specialist Hospital, Lafia, 10 ambulances were seen filled up with corpses of the policemen as the mortuary of the hospital could not absorb them.
Akeremale said that investigation was still ongoing to ascertain the whereabouts of other officers who went on the rescue operation and were ambushed by the militia. He said that no arrest had been made, adding that “efforts are being made to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to book.”
“We believe that members of the group are still in the bush around the area, and we would do all we can to smoke them out,” the commissioner said. Mobile policemen and widows of the slain policemen yesterday barricaded the Lafia – Akwanga road for several hours over the killings of their colleagues and spouses. The situation led to motorists and other road users plying the federal highway being stranded for hours as there was a gridlock on the road.
The state Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, yesterday expressed regret at the high casualty figure, even as he condoled with the security high command over the loss. The governor spoke after an emergency state security meeting held at the Government House, Lafia.
He, however, assured the citizens of adequate protection of their lives and property, vowing that the perpetrators of that heinous crime would be brought to book.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday directed field commanders and special units, including Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police, to ensure that “this reign of terror and lawlessness is brought to an end.” Abubakar, who declared that killing of security operatives is a serious crime, said: “Enough was enough.”
He added that the attack was not just against the police but on “the collective will of Nigerians to protect and preserve the nation.”
Speaking through the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, the IG said the killing, which came a few days after similar gory incidents in Bayelsa and Borno states, had brought a new and dangerous dimension to security challenges in the country.
“This is a disturbing, condemnable and highly distressing incident, coming closely after similar ones in Bayelsa and Borno states.
“It has thrown up new and emerging threat in the delicate task of policing our country. “We consider the attack not just an attack on the Nigeria Police and its officers and men but an attack on the collective will of Nigerians to protect and preserve our dear fatherland; this we have vowed to put an end to,” he added.
The IG stressed that the force and other positiveminded Nigerians would ensure that “it deploys all its powers to fish out and bring to book all those involved in this and other similar killing of law enforcement agents.”
The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, however, described the killing as a revolt and called on leaders to stand up against insurgency. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, ACF condemned the massacre, saying the attack was unacceptable.
The statement reads: “The reported ambush of police and SSS by the Ombatse worshippers in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, which resulted in the loss of 23 officers and eight vehicles is revolting. “Revolting because apart from the precious lives lost, those whose responsibility is to secure the lives and property of Nigerians are becoming the targets of religious sects, however defined.
“This is unacceptable and so should be condemned by not only all religions but also by all peace loving Nigerians. ACF, therefore, condemns the mindless attacks in totality. “Yet, we must not fail to point out the fact that criminals among us are shielding themselves with beliefs which they use to unleash crimes on fellow Nigerians.
“It is very important that the governments and all leaders (be they political, religious or traditional) must come together and confront this evil menace by addressing the underlying causes.” In Borno State, about 20 policemen went on the rampage when they realised that the mortuary of the UMTH was filled to its capacity and could not accommodate the remains of their dead colleagues.
It will be recalled that about 22 policemen, 14 prison officials and 19 others were killed when members of the Boko Haram sect laid ambush to Bama town in Borno State on Tuesday morning.
The rampaging policemen were assigned the task of conveying the remains of their colleagues to the morgue. It was gathered that at about 10a.m. yesterday when the policemen went to the hospital and discovered that the remains of their colleagues taken to the hospital since Wednesday were still lying outside without being deposited at the morgue, they started firing indiscriminately to scare away medical staff.
“The policemen came to the hospital and started shooting sporadically when they discovered that there was no place to deposit the remains of their slain colleagues, as the morgue is fully occupied.
“I believe the medical staff who was shot was hit by stray bullets and not targeted at him as insinuated,” an eyewitness said. A staff at the hospital said: “I was attending to a patient, when I heard the sound of gunshots and immediately I saw people running helter-skelter. I had no option than to run for safety too.
The whole institution was shut down for over two hours before normalcy was restored.” Already, residents medical doctors at the hospital have embarked on an indefinite strike following the shooting.
Chairman of Resident Doctors, Dr. Mohammed Yahaya, said: “Our union has from today embarked on an indefinite strike following the onslaught on one of our colleagues and others by policemen.”
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday made an emergency return to Nigeria after a visit to South Africa. The President, who led key members of National Economic Team to South Africa for Infrastructure Summit of World Economic Forum on Africa, was scheduled to visit Namibia yesterday and return home today.
A statement made available by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, yesterday said the sudden return of the President to the country was in view of recent security developments in Nigeria.
The statement reads in part: “The President is 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 with 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,” Abati said.
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