Mr. Usman Akali, Inspector General of Police.
By Ajibade Praise, Owerri
The pain caused by the tragic death of Yahaya Haruna a renowned fulani herder and leader of a mini fulani settlement in Imo state in Southeastern Nigeria on the 6th of November 2020, is yet to leave his wife and family.
Yahaya was murdered in cold blood by gunmen suspected to have been led by a cousin of his who all along have been threatening to kill him and take over the cows.
The 6th of November being the date fixed for the Anambra gubernatorial election is the exact day the ugly incident occured a year ago. It is exactly one year remembrance of his death and the mood of the families he left behind tells of grieve, sorrow and bitterness when newsmen visited.
One of the widows of late Yaya Haruna, Dineh Yaya have continued to cry out seeking justice for her husband, Haruna Yaya who before his death use to be the head of the a fulani settlement in the said location.
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According to Dineh she was able to identify the killers of her husband, she said the attack was carried out very early in the morning by heavily armed men who stormed the settlement, shot at him and went ahead to hack him down with severe machete cuts.
“On that unfortunate day, Yaya had come out to have his absolution for morning prayers little did he know it was his last day on earth, at first we heard strange noise and the next thing gun shots, as a woman I couldn’t do anything I had to watch from my hiding how my husband struggle as his killers led by Saleh his cousin brother hack him down with several machete cuts, please government should help me get justice for my late husband. Saleh the killer of my husband has also threaten to come and kill my son and take over all his father’s cows, myself and my children now live in fear”.
It is now a year since Yaya was killed, the entire settlement, children, women and men are yet to come over the shock of his gruesome murder.
They however seek that Imo state government wade into the mater and ensure that security operatives do a thorough investigation into the matter and make sure justice is done.
Still bittered about the incident, the brother of Yaha, Hussaini Haruna want security agencies to ensure proper prosecution of Saleh.
Though he is has been caught and he is currently in the police custody in Imo state, Hussaini said Saleh have severally boasted that he fear none of the security agencies, he claim have strong connections and nothing any security agent can do to him.
Civil society groups, the media and well meaning Nigerians are not left out in the matter, they have continued to call for justice for murdered Yaya Haruna.
The death of Yaya would have triggered serious crisis in Imo state if not for the family, civil society group and the media who were able to relate to the world who the actual murderer is in good time.
They urge the Imo state Commissioner of Police CP Rabiu Hussaini to take keen interest in the matter and ensure the murderer is convicted and punished accordingly.
