In what can be described as nemesis, 13 years after the 2011 post-election violence that claimed the lives of six corps members and a policewoman in Giade LGA of Bauchi State, the State Police Command has arrested the suspected mastermind of the gruesome murders, Kabiru Musa.
Recall that on April 18, 2011, between the hours of 12:30 and 1:00 PM, a group of youths led by the said Kabiru Musa, a.k.a. Dawa, stormed Giade Divisional Police Headquarters following the announcement of the 2011 Presidential Election results.
They armed themselves with dangerous weapons, including a knife popularly called Barandami, cutlasses, sticks, and petrol (PMS), and attacked F/No. 020827 W/PC Rifkatu Bappa, who was on counter duty at the charge room.
As a result, she sustained various degrees of injuries and was immediately evacuated to FMC Azare, where she was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. Similarly, the said Dawa, who was the ringleader, and his gang members used petrol (PMS) to set ablaze a motor vehicle, one Toyota Starlet belonging to Mr Peter Okoye, which was kept for safekeeping during the peak of the attack.
While briefing journalists at the Police Headquarters on Thursday, the Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Mohammed, said, “In furtherance of this dastardly act, the said Dawa attacked one Bridget Peter Okoye, wife of Mr. Peter Okoye, cut off her fingers, set fire to the said motor vehicle, and burned down the station, which led to the gruesome murder of six corps members who were at the station for safety.”
The murdered corps members were:
- Nkwazema Anslem with call-up no. NYSC/OWP/2010/127350, state code; BA/10B/1160, state of origin; Imo State.
- Adewumi Seun Paul with call-up no. NYSC/OOU/2010/155553, state code; BA/10B/1301, state of origin; Ekiti State.
- Okpokiri Obinna with call-up no. NYSC/AUU/2010/180200, state code; BA/10C/0950, state of origin; Abia State.
- Teidi Olawale Tosin with call-up no. NYSC/ILR/2010/215976, state code; BA/10C/1220, state of origin; Kogi State.
- Adewei Elliot with call-up no. NYSC/2011/0144144, state code; BA/11A/0274, state of origin; Bayelsa State.
- Ukeoma Ikechukwu Chibuzor with call-up no. NYSC/UNN/2011/077160, state code; BA/11A/1354, state of origin; Imo State.
“The above-mentioned corps members (may their souls rest in peace) tried to take to their heels while the said suspected killer (Dawa), alongside his syndicate, pursued the corps members to their various locations of refuge and gruesomely murdered them one after the other,” the CP added.
He further stated that, “The syndicate also attacked and broke into shops of traders and carted away valuables, further causing a breakdown of law and order.”
According to the CP, “After a manhunt for a decade, the suspect has been arrested, and an investigation is ongoing. After the conclusion, he will be arraigned in court based on the findings of the investigation.”
While fielding questions from journalists, the suspect denied participation in the heinous act, though he said he was in Giade during the incident but did not go near the scene of the crime.
Kabiru Musa added that he is a casual worker who ekes out a living doing menial labour jobs around or anywhere he is engaged.
But a member of the Giade Community who was at the Police headquarters confirmed that indeed, Kabiru Musa was the person who led the mob action leading to the grievous murder of the corps members and others, including the policewoman, after setting the Divisional Headquarters on fire.
On why it took them so long to seek him out, the man who did not want his name in print said that Musa is such a dangerous person that no one in the community dared to confront him.
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