Nasarawa police killings: Govt, police release corpses to wives, relatives

CONTRARY to the official figure given by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, that only 23 security operatives were killed by the outlawed Ombatse militiamen at Alakyo village in Lafia East development area of Nasarawa State last week Tuesday, additional 25 corpses were evacuated between Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

However, government and police authorities have bowed to pressure from the wives and relatives of the slain security personnel who insisted that the corpses of their late ones must be released to them, no matter how burnt the bodies might be.

Findings by the Nigerian Tribune further revealed that additional 18 corpses were brought to Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia, the state capital, on Saturday night, while another seven were deposited on Sunday around 2.30 pm, contrary to 23 given by IGP Abubakar during his visit to the state capital, Lafia, on Saturday.

Investigations revealed that the management of the hospital had since that Saturday night commenced the release of the corpses on the directive of the IGP, to the wives and relatives who could identify their people. It was learnt further that the immediate commencement  of release of the corpses was not unconnected with the odour of the oozing from the bodies about six days ago.  

When Nigerian Tribune visited the hospital, on Sunday, the environment was prone to outbreak of cholera and other diseases, as maggots had started taking over the mangled bodies which were yet to be claimed by the wives or relatives of the deceased. Relations were also seen covering their noses.
One of the widows who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune under the condition of anonymity said, “I came last night but my husband was not among them and likewise this afternoon. We were told that they will still go back to bring the rest.”

A Red Cross official confided in Nigerian Tribune that more corpses were still in the bush because they could not evacuate them at once. “We tried to pack them but the bodies are breaking into pieces, so we will need shovel to pack them,” he added.

Informed hospital source told the Nigerian Tribune that the driver of the late Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Mommoh, was released on Saturday night and he had since been buried. The source added that his wife was able to identify him through the piece of shirt he wore on that fateful day.

Also sighted at the hospital, the wife of the ACP Mommoh, Stella, confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that the body of her late spouse has been released to her.

All efforts to get the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital proved abortive as he was not in the office when the Nigerian Tribune visited his office and call made to his MTN line was not successful, as the mobile was switched off.

It is recalled that 90 security operatives (both police and State Security Service (SSS) members were gruesomely murdered by the proscribed Ombatse militiamen last week Tuesday when the security personnel invaded Alakyo village to arrest the former’s spiritual leader a.k.a Baba-Alakyo in Lafia East development area of the state.

Meanwhile, the wife of the slain Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mrs Stella Mommoh, at the weekend, said the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Abubakar and the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (retd), have assured all the wives of the police officers who lost their lives in the attack of better welfare and entitlements of their spouses.

Mrs Mommoh, who spoke in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune at the Nasarawa State police headquarters, during the visit of the police boss to the state, said with the assurance, all the widows would not suffer after the sudden demise of their husbands.

She was of the opinion that everything that happened in life had been destined by God, saying “I have resigned to fate.”