Masquerade Who Stabs To Death n Other Suspect Arrested

Twenty-one suspected criminals, causing fear and panic in Kogi were arrested including kidnappers, armed robbers and ‘masquerade’ who during the festival, stabbed one Ishak Yusuf to death.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Williams Aya, who paraded the suspects at command headquarters, said: The ‘masquerade’ (real name, Shaibu Musa) of Okene town in Okene Local Government Area of the state and eight others (now at large) conspired and in the disguise of celebrating Ekhechi masquerade festival brought out the Obiede masquerade to terrorise the people. In the process the ‘masquerade’ engaged the deceased in a fight and stabbed him to death.”

Aya, however, said although the suspect denied taking part in the fight during which the deceased was killed, he admitted that on the said date, himself with his colleagues attended the Obiedu masquerade festival at 11p.m.

Also paraded were three suspects, Lawal Jale, Abubakar Isah and Haruna Iliyasu, for attempting to kidnap a brother to one of the suspects. He said: “Jale of Fulani Camp, Obajana invited his friends from Katsina State to kidnap and assassinate his brother, Mu’azu Yahaya. They were arrested in the process of carrying out the act.”

                   

Aya said after kidnapping the victim, they demanded for N1 million ransom and subsequently released him after the payment of the ransom. “The men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, however, arrested Umar in Isua-Akoko, Ondo State following the complaints by the victim,” he added.

Aliu Umar, was arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Usman Waziri of Fulani Camp, Ogale in Ijumu Local Government Area of the state in July.