YEKINI JIMOH writes on the armed attack on Akpanyan and Odolu, two communities in Kogi State allegedly by men in police uniform during Christmas festivities and efforts being made by the police to bring the perpetrators to book.

December 25,2011 was a bleak Christmas day for the people of Odolu community in Igalamala/Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State. It was a day when people of the community were to join the rest of the world to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, however, it was a day when about 65 armed men who appeared in Police uniform stormed the area and attacked the community. The incident was said to have taken place around 10:00 a.m when Christians, both young and old were getting ready to go for church service to celebrate the unique day and offer thanks to God for sparing their lives to witness another Christmas day.

Saturday Tribune learnt that as the armed men stormed the community generally regarded as peaceful, they started shooting sporadically, making the people of the community to run for cover. The men were said to have demanded for the whereabouts of a member representing Igalamela/Odolu Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Honourable Friday Sani Makama, who was said to be their target.

The lawmaker was said to have arrived Odolu from Lokoja, the state capital, to celebrate the Christmas with his family and constituents. The lawmaker, who was also preparing for church service on that fateful day when the armed men arrived the community in eight Hilux buses, had to escape through the back of his residence by jumping the fence. Irrespective of his escape, the armed men, who were believed to acting on the order of a former minister went ahead, ransacked his house, destroyed his cars and other property and carted away N5million constituency fund and other items. His family members who could not escape from the scene of the attack, including his father were beaten and thereafter locked inside the toilets, while the attackers went away with the keys. Hon. Makama, who was shocked by the incidence, has since described it as ‘invasion and looting.’

Saturday Tribune learnt that a day before the raid on Hon. Makama’s residence, which was the eve of Christmas, armed men in police uniform were said to have stormed the palace of traditional ruler of Akpanyan, Abahigboma Apana, where they caused pandemonium and injury as they shot sporadically into the air while blocking the entrance to the palace. The traditional ruler had also fingered the former minister as the brains the attack.

Said the lawmaker: “The traditional ruler of Akpanyan, Abahigboma Apana, called me and said that the former minister came with prison warders and policemen all well armed. He said the entrance of his house was blocked as the armed men shot sporadically into the air.”

Findings indicate that many people were injured in the process while the armed men also locked the traditional ruler’s family members inside the toilets and went away with the keys.

Honourable Makama said on learning of the incident at the palace, not knowing that he would be the victim the next day, he tried to call the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), who allegedly refused to pick the calls.

“I later headed for Akpayan to see the DPO and urged him not to allow the man and his agents to use him to destabilise the peace of the people of the area any more, even as he recalled how the former minister attacked his people the previous year and took some of them to court for murder before the suit was squashed for lack of evidence.

Speaking with Saturday Tribune on the attack on his residence, Hon. Makama said: “Armed men in police uniform numbering 65 stormed my residence on December 25 in the morning. They broke all the doors leading to my room and when they were asked why the invasion, their leader said he was told that I had guns in my house. I had to take cover as I escaped by jumping the fence of my house. My father and other people living with me were not so lucky as they were beaten by the armed men.

“They forced their way into my room and carted away the N5million constituency allowance, money meant for projects execution in the area; six gold wrists watches and vandalised all my furniture and electronics worth millions of naira,” he added.

According to him, the matter has since been reported to the police authorities, the Directorate of State Security Service (SSS) at Ajaka and Odolu and all the traditional rulers in the area.

“I also called the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Amana Abagasanga, who absolved himself and the state command of knowledge of such invasion. He said he was not aware of any order for his arrest.

He told me the only thing he was aware of was a directive from IGP (Inspector General of Police) to move to Akpayan to see what was happening in the area but no warrant of arrest or order to search my residence,” he added.

The lawmaker, who said he has contacted his lawyers, vowed to institute a legal action against the former minister and others, including the state police command for their alleged role in the attack.

“We are going to institute a legal action against them all. We are instituting a case against the Kogi State Commissioner of Police and whoever was involved in the unlawful attack and searching of my residence,” he vowed.

Meanwhile, Kogi State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ajayi Okasannmi, said the command was not aware of such incident but stressed that it will go into action to investigate the matter, if it is true or not.