The Kogi State police command has said its personnel were still on the hunt for the killers of the state leader of Fulani group, Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar Jalido.
Jalido, a former two-term Secretary of Maiyati Allah in Kogi, took office as chairman of the group last September following a heated election which took place at the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He was killed at his residence around 2am on Saturday by suspected assassins. His body was riddled with bullets and machete cuts.
The incident occurred at Road 3 of Peace Community along the Ganaja-Ajaokuta road in Lokoja.
The gunmen numbering about 10 may have used a detour to beat police operatives attached to C Division Lokoja, as they were said to have approached their victim’s house through an unfamiliar route, before gaining access into the resident.
A resident who spoke under the condition of anonymity pointed accusing at Fulani herdsmen.
A neighbour of the deceased said that he saw strange faces within the vicinity not knowing they had evil motive in that area.
He said the deceased who is survived by two wives and children, was shot and cut with a machete as the assailants gained access to one of his wives’ room, having forced the door open.
A doctor attached to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Lokoja, Sam Alhassan, who conducted autopsy on the deceased recounted what happened during the wee hours, since his house is close by to where the incident occurred.
He said, “I was in my room which is just steps away to his house and I started hearing gunshots. Then, I rose up from my bed and I began to look through the window. I saw a group of bandits in two lines. At least I saw eight people, and they started shooting. The next thing that I saw was that a bullet hit the overhead tank and water started draining down. Later, me and my family went quiet for a while, then wife of the deceased came out and said ‘they have killed my husband.”
“On saying that, my landlord, who is a security officer, went inside to go and ascertain this fact, that the man is actually dead. I went inside also, I saw Alhaji in a pool of blood, his body macheted”.
It was however unclear whether or not the assailants made away with any money or property, as relatives kept mum, when prodded.
The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr William Aya, who confirmed the incident, said the command was investigating the dastardly act.
The deceased was buried same day according to Islamic rites.
Credits: James Azania | The Nation
