Ombatse Terror: Nasarawa Under Siege Of Deadly Cultists; Several Killed, Army Drafted

Sept. 18, 2013

Joseph, Lafia

The corpses of the Managing Director of Police Community Bank, Alhaji Alhassan Gidado, the Abuja branch Manager, Mr. Tunde Banwo, and a driver, Aliyu Adamu, were found in their car pushed into a ditch in Tudun Adabu, an Eggon settlement in Obi Local Government Area, today, by armed soldiers patrolling the area.

State police commissioner, Umar Shehu, who said information on the development was still sketchy when he spoke to Daily Trust on phone, at past 6pm, today, said that the police had received reports last Saturday that the three were missing.

They had travelled for a wedding in Nasarawa State, and were on their way back when they were trapped in the bloody violence which hit Adabu and Obi town that Saturday, the police boss said.

The information came after the State Security Council (SCC) meeting in Government House.

“We cannot be so sure to confirm that they are the ones, for now. But three persons were found in the car. My men are there are yet to return with details,” the police commissioner said.

But Daily Trust learnt from other members of the council that reports which reached the council said the three visitors to the state, were found lifeless in a car pushed into a ditch and covered up with leaves and grasses.

Our source said the smell from the decomposing bodies of the three visitors attracted the soldiers, who mounted a search and rescue since last Saturday, upon reports that communications with the three and their families, as well as friends cut off because their phones all went dead.

Their throats were said to have been slashed, and their corpses left in the vehicle.

Adabu was hit by killing and burning after Eggon youths of the Ombatse militia stormed in on Alago people whom they have co-existed with, and inter-married for decades.

The violence, which spread to neighbouring towns and villages, in Obi and Lafia, attracted troops from neighbouring states, including Abuja, to restore normalcy.