Yesterday, The Commissioner of Police, CP Akeem Yusuf, said a group of hoodlums opened fire on the joint security team who were on an operation at Ejule in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
He said the gang leader, Kabir Bala (Okwo), was neutralized during the exchange of fire while many of his gang members escaped with varying degrees of injury.
He said the decision to carry out the joint operation against Bala was taken at a state security meeting on June 20th, 2023 due to the upsurge of criminal activities in the state
It was gathered that Okwo was arrested by Former Governor Idris Ichala Wada and he was serving prison terms before he was suddenly granted pardon and became more powerful than he was, and enjoyed government support and backing and suddenly things changed.
But the worrisome question in Kogi ,and Ejule to be precise, Why Okwo was pardoned?
Why was Okwo granted pardon by the state government initially? Was the pardon granted just to use him for the election or he was granted the amnesty for good behavior while he was in a cell?
Okwo has about 6 months to end his prison sentence he was released months to Kogi Governorship election, election between Engr Musa Wada of PDP against Yahaya Bello of APC in a deal initiated for the interest of the state government , after then Okwo was instrumental to many victory APC recorded in Kogi East among them is the immediate last election where he ensured the party won at all cost in that Federal Constituency.
His body cut across the entire Kogi East, where he is so powerful and the state government gave him that power to even invade a community and cut trees for business.
While I called on the Kogi state government to put an end to extrajudicial killings in Ejule, arrest the suspects and let them face trial as stated by the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria.
There must be a confession and the public are interested in such a confession.
If Okwo is the main target and he has been killed according to the police, killing others related to him without trial is unconstitutional.
Arrest them, and let them face law, Okwo was arrested by the previous government and he was sentenced and facing rehabilitation before the current government of Kogi state granted him
Pardon.
I read the atrocity committed by the gang leaders, but the Kogi state government should be blamed for those crimes committed by Okwo.
The victims of those atrocities should question the state government. What led to the pardon granted to Okwo arrested by Capt Wada government ? With the police statement, it shows that Okwo has never for once change , but he has enjoyed the protection and coverage of the government, the government yesterday admitted that Okwo has hand in the killing of Mrs Salome Abuh, the former PDP woman leader killed as a result of Engr Musa Wada’s election.
If police are aware of Okwo was behind the killing of Mrs Salome Abuh, Why did they parade Ocholi Edicha alongside other five and Okwo name was excluded?
There are more questions that is begging for Answers.
Usman Okai Austin
Public Affairs Analyst,
Writes from Abuja
