Tension as warlords abduct, kill okada rider in Kogi

Suspected ethnic warlords of one of the rival groups in Bassa-Komu and Egbura-mozum ethnic groups have allegedly kidnapped and killed a commercial motorcycle rider, one Ilemona Iyaro Omakwu at Odugbo in Bassa LGA of Kogi State.

The incident was reported to have happened on Sunday afternoon at Odugbo when the okada man was on his routine business in the vicinity.

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The locals reported that late Ilemona was flagged down at a roadblock mounted by hoodlums suspected to be from one of the rival groups in the Bassa-Komu and Egbura-mozum crisis,  discharged his passenger, and led him into the bush on the pretext that he was of the rival group.

It was gathered that the said okada man pleaded with his assailants, saying he was an Igala-man  and was on his way to Odugbo to drop his passenger.

The okada man was said to be from Ochipu, a settlement in Bassa LGA but registered with Okada riders’ association in Dekina LGA of the state.

The news of the missing motorcyclist, who was said to have been killed and eaten by the war-lords, is said to have heightened tension in the area with the youths and his association threaten-ing reprisal on his abductors.

The locals said six of the alleged warlords were arrested on Sunday night and handed over to the police on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Kogi East Neighbourhood Watch (KEWN), a community policing group that operates along with the police authority to keep vigil and check security breach, has appealed to the state government and security agents to urgently wade in and ensure that justice is done over the ugly incident.

According to Isaac Inah, the secretary  of KEWN, this incident was one of such dastardly acts perpetrated by the alleged rival groups on rival ethnic group that would not be allowed to continue.

The group said such impunity should  not be allowed to undermine  Governor Yahaya Bello and security agents’ efforts to keep the areas safe.

‘‘These ethnic warlords should not be allowed to continue to fan the embers of ethnic strife, to feather their nest, and dare the governor of the state despite his efforts, along with stakeholders to restore normalcy to the embattled region,” he said.

However, when contacted, the state police command’s PPRO, William Aya, claimed ignorance of the incident but assured that he get back to the reporter.