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Fear gripped residents of Okene town in Kogi State and its environs following the assassination of a masquerade custodian, Yusuf Otaru Adabenege and two other persons by unknown gunmen on Friday night.
Yusuf was murdered in cold blood on Friday at about 6:30pm around Oro Obehira-Ege road in Okene Local Government Area of the State.
It was reliably gathered that Yusuf was the custodian of a masquerade called “Sementi” who was expected to perform next week Tuesday during the “Ekwechi festival”.
The sources disclosed that the three victims were in Ford Ranger when some unidentified gunmen rounded them up and open fire on their vehicle as they were heading to Obehira from Okene.
Supporters of the late Yusuf, on Saturday, staged violent protests in Okene, shooting into the air to scare people away from the streets. Most of the social functions scheduled for Saturday could not hold following the apprehension in Okene,
It took the intervention of the Kogi State Police command and military men to disperse the protesters.
Governor Yahaya Bello who visited the family of the deceased said his administration will not tolerate break down of law and order in the state.
He assured that the security agents will do everything possible to unmask those behind the killings.
The public relation officer of the state Police Command, Mr. William Ayah confirmed the incident. He said the command is doing everything possible to track down the hoodlums.
“We received report that unknown armed men shot sporadically at a Ford Ranger driven by one Zubairu Musa of Upogoro Okene, aged 42years, with two occupants namely; Yusuf Adabenege, a custodian of Sementi masquerade and Yakubu Mohammed of Irevucheba Okene, aged 45years.
“The driver and Yusuf Adabenege died on the spot. The Commissioner of Police, Ali Janga has visited the scene for on the spot assessment and directed state CID to carry out investigations,” he said.
According to him, the CP has assured the public on adequate security of lives and property, saying that the police will ensure that perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted.
The late Yusuf has been buried in his family house at Obehira on Saturday.
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