Dada Ahmed
Police in Lokoja, Kogi State, have arrested three suspects: Haruna Adamu, Yakubu Mohammed and Harisu Abdulrasheed, who allegedly raised false alarm against one Usman Abubakar, for ‘robbing one of them of his manhood” and lynched him to death.
Parading the suspects before the public in Lokoja on Tuesday, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP. Bethrand Onuoha said they would be charged before a court for raising false alarm and culpable homicide.
Giving insight into the development that led to the arrest of three suspects, Onuoha said: “Following a rip-off that some hoodlums attacked the above deceased (Usman Abubakar) and lynched him to death, the operative attached to Kabba promptly swing into action and arrested the above suspects.
“It was further revealed that the deceased, who was an Okada man from Aiyetoro, conveyed a passenger from Kabba to Aiyetoro, then used the opportunity to visit his friend, one Haruna Adamu of Aiyetoro. “While he was in Haruna Adamu’s shop, he met other suspects he had a handshake with them.
“Immediately, the suspect raised a fake alarm that the deceased took their manhood which attracted the mob to lynch the deceased and burnt him to death.
“The suspects confessed to the crime.”
The Commissioner of Police also paraded two suspects: ThankGod Joseph and Monday Matthew, found in unlawful possession of three Dane guns, one short gun, one single barrel gun, cutlasses, five jerry-cans of stolen palm oil and several charms at Onicha-Igo in Ofu LGA of the state.
According to the police boss, the command has also recovered one AK47 rifle with live ammunition from suspected kidnappers as well as the recovery of three Peugeot 206 and 406 cars from suspected car snatchers who specialize in dispossessing innocent people of their properties.
CP Onuoha, who assured residents of the command’s continued onslaught against crime and criminal elements in the state, solicited their increased support.
He reminded the people that “there is no police agency, anywhere in the world, no matter how well-trained, equipped or motivated its personnel are, that can solely achieve its safety mandate without the support from the public.”
He, therefore urged Kogites, particularly traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, market bodies, farmers, hunters, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Okada Union, and Tricycle Union among others for their maximum support.
He said the advice became imperative to boost the efforts of the command in the fight against criminals, especially kidnappers, armed robbers, and cultists amongst others.
Our correspondent recalls that the media space in Lokoja and its environments were overflowed with reports of manhood disappearance with the attendant jungle justice meted to perceived snatchers of such vital organs of the body about two weeks ago.
The negative development led to the merciless beating of persons suspected of carrying out such acts by the mob.