The Justice Fola Gbadeyan (rtd) Commission of Inquiry into the Alakyo killings has indicted Senator Solomon Ewuga and officials of Eggon cultural group (ECDA) as suspected sponsors and promoters of the Ombatse militia that killed 74 law enforcement agents on May 7, 2013, comprising 64 police officers and 10 state security operatives.
The Commission’s report which was submitted last week also blamed the federal government for failure to save the lives of the citizens.
It said: “The federal government’s lack of concern over the Alakyo killings even when its agents were the victims has not helped in the containment of violence in the state. The federal government’s attitude has given room for tendentious interpretations (largely of a political nature).”
The report which indicted Ewuga, Joseph Kigbu, member of the House of Representatives and officials of Eggon Youth Movement (EYM) as financiers and promoters said “some politicians have taken advantage of the activities of the outlawed Ombatse to advance their cause.”
The Commission also indicted the Ministry of Justice for not enforcing the legal notice No 4 prescribing the group.
“Due to lax enforcement of the law by the relevant component units of the State’s criminal justice system, namely, the law enforcement agencies (especially the police), the Ministry of Justice and the courts, obvious perpetrators of violence have been left unencumbered and emboldened to remain what they are.”
It added that it was not either an act of God or any spiritual forces that caused the death of security operatives, but that fire-arms and cutlasses were used in the massacre.
The Commission, therefore, called for the prosecution of those found capable and urged state government to set up a committee to investigate the others.
