By Rabiu Doma, Nasarawa
A cabinet member under the current administration of the All Progressive Congress [APC] has denied being a financier, or an abettor, or sponsor of the Eggon Ombatse militant group. Honorable Adamu Mua’zu, the commissioner of Culture and Tourism made the statement while reacting to a memorandum submitted before the ongoing Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
The commissioner, an Eggon extraction, described the memo as a mere fabrication by Alago people. During cross examination by counsels to Alago communities of Assakio, Obi, and Ana as well counsel to known Eggon speaking people of Iga community, he denied the existence of Ombatse.
The cabinet member stated that Ombatse group was strictly for Eggon sons. He also denied knowledge of the past Assakio massacre of 1/June/2012.
He denied the knowledge of the massacre of security agents of 7/5/2013 at Alakyo by criminals other than Ombatse. Hon. Adamu Mua’zu denied the recent Assakio massacre of 14/9/2013 by the same Ombatse. While answering questions, he stated that he was the one that lead Red Cross and the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency to Alakyo to evacuate corpses of the dead security men.
“I led the team on four occasions under the directive of the state Governor”, he stated. He added that no fewer than forty corpses were evacuated to Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital.
The commissioner admitted during the cross examination that he recovered some firearms from Alakyo – while adding that the subsequent attacks on Obi, Assakio Tudun Odubun Alago were reprisal attacks on Alago who he alleged beheaded an Eggon man at his farm in Obi Local Government – an Alago settlement.
This was as counsels to Lafia Emirate Council, Alago and Iga communities tendered a video clique as sensitive evidence before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry. The video contained the brand of motorcycles, vehicles and weapons used by Ombatse militia.
The embattled cabinet member also told the public hearing that the monarch of Obi alerted him on the 13/9/2013 of the attack by Alago youth on Eggon youth whom he said had come from Padamam-Bauna to condole the family of the bereaved who was beheaded by Alago’s.
