The Iyara Development Association (IDA) has called on Nigeria Police Force, Kogi state command, to fast track investigation into the case of a 36 year old bricklayer who allegedly went missing after visiting an Alfa (Islamic cleric) for divination in the community.
The National President of Iyara Development Association, Alhaji Aliyu Badaki, in a statement made available to newsmen in Lokoja on Tuesday, described the incident as barbaric, unfortunate and alien to the community, known as home of peace.
According to him, the cleric is a Fulani man based in the Iyara, adding that the association will do everything humanly possible to get to the root of the matter.
“The story is true but it’s Fulani boy residing at Omigbo settlement in Ilupa called Alfa who committed the offence, though as a suspect. The case is already with the state CID and we’re making efforts to follow it up to a logical end.
“This is another clarion call to warn our people who are found of covering up criminals among us because of patronage that will not help them in any way,” he said.
He commended security agencies for the swift reaction which led to the arrest of the suspect and expressed confidence in the ability of the Police to unravel the truth of the matter.
The bricklayer, Samond Akeju Ogunrinde, had left his family in Ekiti to seek for spiritual assistance from the Alfa, known as Olaita Apelu on March 25th 2022.
After several attempt to speak to Ogunrinde on phone which proved abortive, his family reported the matter to the Iyara Division of the Nigeria Police.
The suspect was arrested and taken to the Police State Headquarters Lokoja but we gathered that he was yet to confess to the crime.
