Late Amos Ewa Obere, village head of Odu, Nasarawa State killed by gunmen.
Collins Agwam, Lafia
Following the death of Mr. Amos Ewa Obere, the Village Head of Odu community in Udege Development Area of Nasarawa Local Government Council of the state, indigenes of the community have expressed their sadness on the untimely death of the late Village head.
They explained that the late village head was a man who loved all his subjects irrespective of their religious affiliation or interests.
The Dune Newspaper on a fact finding mission to ascertain the actual cause of his death in a telephone interview with Mr Mohammed Al-Bashir Yerima, one of the Concerned Youths of the community threw more light on the sad incident that took place on that fateful day.
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According to him, “Unknown armed men stormed the house of the late village head at about 10pm on Friday when he was seated with some Pastors in his house who came to pray with him. Immediately they entered the house, they took him away and shot him from behind, then they asked him to go. He managed to crawl to his gate before he was seen by some of his subjects and they immediately rushed him to Mararaba-Udege General Hospital for treatment where he later died.
“One of the Pastors with him was also taken away on that fateful day but they have not killed him. They are asking for a ransom of N30 million before he will be released”.
Yerima said that Odu community has been experiencing this kind of attacks in the last five years and almost everyone now lives in fear due to the series of attacks the villagers have been experiencing.
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“Before now, it was more of robbery. People are stopped on their way and their valuables collected from them but it recently metamorphosed into kidnapping and killings. Even the late village head was kidnapped last year before he regained freedom from his captors and later killed on Friday.
“He is the first chief to be a Christian in the community. Before now, all other chiefs were traditional worshippers. The late chief’s house is in an isolated area because I think it’s the last house in that part of the community”, he said.
The death of the monarch came as a shock to the Nasarawa state government.
Governor Abdullahi Sule who was pained and emotional about the incident, on hearing about the painful exit of the monarch, immediately embarked on a journey to Odu Community.
Nasarawa State Governor, H.E Abdullahi Sule.
Speaking at the Palace of the Asu Ajiri, the governor called on residents of the state to participate actively in the policing process of their Communities.
He restated his administration’s commitment to secure the lives and properties of the citizens while insisting that criminals must not be allowed to truncate the peace and economic activities of the state.
He expressed worry at the resurgence of insecurity in the area that was peaceful. He admonished youths in the area to shun crime.
The Osu Ajiri on his part commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for beefing up security in the area while thanking the governor for the on going construction of mararaba Udege – Udege Mbeki road.
He pleaded with the governor for speedy appointment of more district heads in the area for ease of administration and improved security.
But the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Nasarawa State has vowed to fish out the killers of Mr. Amos Ewa Obere, the late village head, a retired ASP of the Force.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Nansel Ramhan while speaking with our Correspondent in Lafia explained that the Police is doing everything within its powers to track down the killers of the village head, noting that, no stone will be left unturned until they are arrested and prosecuted.
The PPRO who was bittered by the incident said that investigation to unravel the circumstances and those behind the attack had since commenced.
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He also urged members of the public to always give the police every necessary Information at their disposals that will help the Police serve the people better.
The police spokesperson explained that the force received information about the attack on Friday at about 10pm.
“Upon the receipt of the information, a detachment of police personnel comprising Special Anti Robbery Squad, Police Mobile Force, personnel of Operation Puff Adder and Vigilante led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) raced to the scene and discovered that the victim was shot.
“He was rushed to the hospital but died while receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Mararaba-Udege,” he said.
