A notorious criminal, Kabir Bala alias Okwo was shot dead in the early hours of Thursday at Ejule, Ofu local government area of Kogi State, during a special operation conducted by a joint security team, comprising army, police, navy and civil defence personnel.
Police Commissioner, Akeem Yusuf made the disclosure, in a press conference held on Thursday in Lokoja.
The Commissioner of Police said the notorious criminal had remained unrepentant, despite the pardon in the prerogative of mercy granted him in October 2018.
He pointed out that the State Security Council meeting held on 20th June 2023 revoked the pardon.
Yusuf said a lot of attrocoties, including, kidnapping, dealing in illegal arms and many killings in the state were traced to Bala.
Among the killings traced to Bala , according the Commissioner of police are; the killing of Mrs Salome Abu, a PDP women leader in her residence at Ochadamu, Ofu Local Government on November 18, 2019.
“Killing of two Igala boys, Umoru Areh and Unekwu Sule on April 20, 2022 at Ejule.
“Killing of five fulani herdsmen, namely Ibrahim, Haruna, Shuaibu along Alloma Road, Ofu LG in April, 2022 and Muhammed and Dauda at Imoko in Ofu LG on 3rd March, 2022,” he said.
Other crimes committed by Kabir Bala and his gang, according to the commissioner, are “attack on troops of Nigerian Navy and dispossessed them of four rifles at Alloma village on 4th March, 2022. Though, the Firearms were later returned to the Navy following high-powered intervention.”
The commissioner pointed out that Late Okwo also attacked on Elisha Aya, Pastor and founder of Kingdom Faith Assembly Ejule on 18th March, 2022 who later paid 1 million Naira to Bala as levy for establishing a Church.
Bala, he said, was also behind attack on the Lords Chosen Church, during which a worshipper, Joy Abuh sustained gunshot injury on her left arm.
“He was also responsible for seven kidnappings along Itobe – Anyigba highway from 5th to 28th May, 2023,” he alleged.
The Police Commissioner listed items recovered from Bala and his men to include one Ak-47 rifle with three fully loaded magazines, six locally fabricated pistols, two phones and charms.
Yusuf said the operation will be sustained until all known agents of Bala in criminal activities are apprehended .
He also vowed to recover all illegal arms in circulation in Ejule and its environs.
Yusuf said the onslaught will be extended to other parts of the state to ensure security of lives and property.
