Initial reports from Nassarawa state on Wednesday said at least 20 policemen were killed as members of the Eggon militia group, Ombatse, in Alakyo village of Lafia East development area ambushed security operatives who had been drafted to the area.The security men were there to arrest leader of the group Baba Alakyo,an incident that resulted in further bloodbath.Some reports put the death toll higher.In fact on Thursday, the death toll has risen to at least 46.
Governor Almakura rushed to the presidential villa Abuja yesterday.Almakura said “I am here to meet with His Excellency, the Vice President to brief him about the security situation in my state. Just yesterday, we have 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 total different dimension. They have been going for one place to another including churches and taking people 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 of solving the problem.
“The solution was to go to the shrine and pick on 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 has 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”.
