Nasarawa State Governor Ibrahim Al-Makura yesterday said that no fewer than 20 policemen were killed on Tuesday by local militia in the state.
Suspected members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect had killed 22 policemen, 14 prison officials and two soldiers in Bama, Borno State.
Al-Makura said that intelligence reports indicated that the cultists were members of Ombatse militia group.
The word ‘Ombatse’ in the local Eggon language means ‘time has come’.
The governor spoke with newsmen at Aso Villa in Abuja after briefing Vice- President Namadi Sambo on the security situation in the state.
He said the unfortunate incident occurred at Alakio village, about 10 kilometres from Lafia, the state capital.
The governor noted that the policemen were going about their lawful duties of dislodging the militia group that had besieged the state before they were attacked by the cultists.
It is believed that the group is bent on causing security problems to destabilise the state, which is being controlled by the Congress for Progress Change, CPC.
The governor, however, expressed the resolve of the state government to permanently dislodge the group.
He said: “I am here to meet with the Vice President to brief him about the security situation in the state.
“Just yesterday, we had a very bitter security problem that has 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 different dimension.
“They have been going from one place to another, including churches, and taking people only for 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 to solve the problem. The solution was to go to the shrine and arrest the cult leader so that the problem will be solved once and for all.
“As security operatives were approaching the shrine, unknown to them that ambush had been laid for them, these people attacked them and 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 that is from Eggon extraction and called ‘Ombatse’ has been proscribed since the beginning of this year because of the activities of the members. “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.”
National Mirror learnt that the policemen were ambushed by the group who also burnt four Hilux vehicles belonging to the force.
A source said some of the injured policemen were brought to the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Akeremale, however, told newsmen in Lafia that the policemen were on a mission to recue some people being held by the militia group and were ambushed by members of the group at Lakyo village.
He said: “Information reaching the police indicated that the militia group, proscribed by the state government a few months ago, was linked to recent attack of places of worship in the state.
“And the group was also engaged in kidnapping people and forcing them into taking concoction against their wish.
“When we got information about their armoury and venue for their initiation, we deployed men to checkmate them, possibly seal up the place and recover the arms.
“It is in this process that our men were ambushed by members of the group.”
He said some of his men sustained injuries while others, who scampered for safety, were believed to be hiding in the bush.
The CP added: “A detachment of mobile policemen have been drafted to comb the area in order to ensure the safety of the officers still in the bush.”
Suswam cries out over herdsmen’s attack
Also yesterday, Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam said that Fulani herdsmen overran the Agatu Local Government Area in the state, leaving “high casualties, including women and children.”
Suswan disclosed this to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with Sambo.
The governor said he was in Abuja to give a report on the security situation in his state and other issues to the Vice President
“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 that the Senate President represents and they almost overrun the local government.
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