On Tuesday May 7th, Nassarawa State
Commissioner of Police sent police officers, SSS and Civil Defense personnel to
arrest the cult leader of a notorious militia group called 'Ombatse' (a cult
group of the Eggon people of Nasarawa State) at Assakyo Village in Lafia,
Nassarawa state. (Ombatse in Eggon language means “time has come”).
The state government wanted to arrest
the chief priest because the group had been causing security concerns in the
state. Unfortunately for the police officers sent to pick the man up, as they
approached the Ombatse Shrine in a forest, members of the militia group who had
laid ambush for them attacked and killed plenty of them. Many of the police
officers were burnt beyond recognition.
The police command later said that
only 17 out of the 90 police officers, minus SSS and NSCDC personnel, who went
on the mission returned...and all with various degrees of wounds. Graphic photo
when you continue...
Also, out of the 11 police patrol
vans used to convey the mobile policemen for the operation, eight were burnt
beyond recognition by the militia group.
The Nassarawa Commissioner of Police explains why they wanted to arrest the Ombatse cult leader:"The militia group called Ombatse was going about in mosques and churches forcing all people of Eggon extraction in and out of Lafia to drink a particular concoction prepared from herbs and anyone who failed to comply was beaten up and harassed. It was agreed at the state security meeting that the Ombatse Shrine priest be arrested to stop such activities.”
Only a few Ombatse worshipers were killed in an operation that lasted almost 24 hours, while at least 60 security operatives were killed. Over 100 bodies, some of them burnt beyond recognition, were displayed at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia for identifications by friends and relatives of the slain police men.The incident even forced President Jonathan to call off his planned visit to Namibia on Thursday.
The Nassarawa Commissioner of Police explains why they wanted to arrest the Ombatse cult leader:"The militia group called Ombatse was going about in mosques and churches forcing all people of Eggon extraction in and out of Lafia to drink a particular concoction prepared from herbs and anyone who failed to comply was beaten up and harassed. It was agreed at the state security meeting that the Ombatse Shrine priest be arrested to stop such activities.”
Only a few Ombatse worshipers were killed in an operation that lasted almost 24 hours, while at least 60 security operatives were killed. Over 100 bodies, some of them burnt beyond recognition, were displayed at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia for identifications by friends and relatives of the slain police men.The incident even forced President Jonathan to call off his planned visit to Namibia on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State police
command yesterday arrested two policemen who allegedly tipped off the cultists,
leading to the deaths of their colleagues. The two police corporals, Corporal
Enugu (pictured above) and Corporal Haruna Joseph, are of Eggon origin.
May the souls of the police officers
rest in peace, Amen.
Culled: lib
No comments:
Post a Comment