Police operatives in Bauchi State have announced the arrest of the suspected killers of six National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Giade local government area of Bauchi State in 2011.
The arrest of the suspects is coming over a decade after the NYSC members were cut down gruesomely by a riotous mob during the post – election violence that rocked Bauchi State and other parts of northern Nigeria in 2011.
The suspected scoundrels also allegedly cut down a female Police officer, Rifkatu Bappa, who was on counter duty at a Police Charge Room in Giade LGA of the State during the 2011 post-election violence.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Musa Mohammed, who narrated events leading to their arrest while parading them on Thursday at the State’s Police Command headquarters in Bauchi, said: “On 18th April 2011 between the hours of 1230h and 1300 hrs, a group of youth led by one Kabiru Musa a.k.a Dawa, stormed Giade Divisional Police Headquarters following the announcement of the 2011 presidential election result armed themselves with dangerous weapons which included a knife popularly called Barandami, cutlasses, sticks, 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 and confirmed dead by a medical doctor.”
Mohammed gave the names and details of the Corps members killed in the 2011 post-election violence as; Nkwazema Anslem with call-up Number: NYSC/OWP/2010/127350, state code; BA/10B/1160, state of origin – Imo State; Adewumi Seun Paul with call-up Number: NYSC/OOU/2010/155553, state code; BA/10B/1301, state of origin – Ekiti State; Okpokiri Obinna with call-up Number: NYSC/AUU/2010/180200, state code; BA/10C/0950, state of origin – Abia.
Others are Teidi Olawale Tosin with call-up Number: NYSC/ILR/2010/215976, state code; BA/10C/1220, state of origin – Kogi State; Adewei Elliot with call-up Number: NYSC/2011/0144144, state code; BA/11A/0274, state of origin – Bayelsa State, and Ukeoma Ikechukwu Chibuzor with call-up Number: NYSC/UNN/2011/077160, state code; BA/11A/1354, state of origin – Imo State.
“The above-mentioned corps members (May their soul rest in peace) tried to take to their heels while the said suspected killer (Dawa) alongside his syndicate run in pursue of the corps members to their various locations of refuge and gruesomely murdered them one after the other,” the CP said.
He noted that the syndicate also attacked and broke into shops of traders and looted valuables, causing further chaos on that fateful day in Giade town, headquarters of Giade local government area of the state.
“Similarly, the said Dawa who was the Ringleader and his gang members used petrol (PMS) and set ablaze a motor vehicle, one Toyota Starlet belonging to Mr. Peter Okoye which was kept for safekeeping during the peak of the attack.
“In furtherance of this dastardly act, the said Dawa attacked one Bridget Peter Okeye, wife of Mr. Peter Okoye, cut-off her fingers,” he added.