I have quietly studied the response of Kogi people on the allegations that Senator Dino Melaiye is sponsoring some armed thugs to disrupt the state and the forthcoming elections in 2019. It is quite curious to note that majority of Kogi people commenting on the issue believe the confessions of the thugs was stage-managed after cash exchanged hands.
Before I continue, why is President Buhari, formerly known as Mr. Integrity, silent about the importation of military wares into a country he is presiding over? Let’s even leave the issue of who imported the killer packages, the importation is real and not an allegation. Customs is quiet, Army is quiet, President Buhari is equally quiet. Are they all in the know? Something is fishy here.
Anyway, back to my main issue. The latest Dino Drama leaves a lot of gaps that were not properly filled and these makes it hard to right thinking persons to believe that the Nigerian Police is not pursuing political trial for commercial gains.
First, from the police press statement, they claimed that; “the Kogi State Police Command personnel and operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad trailed and arrested two (2) suspects, namely; Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama “31 YRS” From Dekina LGA but based in Anyagba (Leader of the gang) and NUHU SALISU a.k.a SMALL “25 YRS” (a member of the gang), after a gun battle with the Police team that lasted for some hours on the 19th January 2018 at Ogojueje in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State”. I make bold to say that there is no town, village or settlement called Ogojueje in Dekina LGA. This can be waived as typographical error anyway but we took notice of this badly filled gap in their claims.
Secondly, I read that the parade of the criminals, Osama and Small was a stage play. We were told that the criminals, who the Nigerian Police claimed to have been involved in dangerous crimes, were treated like VIPs. We learnt officers quickly bought chicken and chilled malts for Osama and Small when they didn’t want to ‘co-operate’. Paraded criminals, who were allegedly arrested after a shoot out with policemen, appeared before newsmen in expensive shoes that most policemen in the country cannot afford. Please, can the police force show us just one other criminal that has been so nicely treated in the state. These badly filled gaps are well noticed.
Thirdly, why is the Nigerian Police desperate to parade the criminals in Lokoja. We learnt they were ferried into Lokoja from Abuja by Jimoh Moshood for the charade, abi na parade? We still recall that the Administrator of Ijumu local government area, Hon. Taofeeq Isa was paraded almost bare footed in Abuja over confessions of some goons that he was involved in an assassination attempt of Senator Dino’s life in his Kogi home town. Can the Police force kindly diffuse our doubts of her integrity with facts of how they ferry criminals from Abuja to Markudi, Ibadan, Kano for parade. This badly filled gaps is glaring for all to see.
Fourthly, Police seems to be working with Kogi state government. No amount of hypo can wash this notion from the minds of the average Kogite anyway but I got curious this evening after monitoring the trends. Some hours ago, known government e-minions posted a badly scripted piece that Senator Dino has eloped to Ghana where he is hiding to dodge police arrest and prosecution. Yes, Dino was in Ghana some days ago for a function. The piece also alleged that Dino is threatening Saraki. After circulating this badly scripted piece on various whatsapp groups as is their usual practice, they sponsored it on an online platform that has recently become their partner, Saharareporters. Shortly after the piece was published online, I heard the Police threatening to declare Dino wanted and even said they will involve interpol to track him outside Nigeria. As at the time Police was making this threat, Dino was confirmed to be in Nigeria attending high level social engagements in the country. Police obviously acted on the lines of Kogi government and not on intelligence gathering as expected. This wide gap is too big to go unnoticed.
I don’t want to join the bandwagon and conclude that Police is acting a warped script badly written by Yahaya Bello and Edward Onoja the schemer. Kindly read through this and fill in the gaps properly to make some Kogites have confidence in the force again.
– Adamu Ojonugwa writes from Lokoja.
