The Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has ruled out amnesty for members of the outlawed Ombatse militia organisation from the Eggon ethnic group which killed many security operatives in May this year, stressing that the criminals and their sponsors would not escape justice.
Governor Al-Makura stated that granting amnesty to the occult group would amount to preempting the work of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the state government to ascertain the remote causes of the killing of security personnel in Alakyo, Lafia Local Government Area of the state.
The governor who spoke with journalists in Abuja was reacting to what he described as misrepresentations credited to him during his lecture at the Institute for Security Studies in Bwari.
“As a matter of fact, I feel very worried by this misrepresentation because nothing can be farther from my views which I said and what was credited to me. In fact, myself and my administration are bent on bringing to book criminals and perpetrators of the dastardly act in Alakyo which resulted in the killing of security operatives during the operation.
“It is very unfair on me and my government for anybody to insinuate the fact that my government is rooting the idea of amnesty. That is farthest from the truth; we will not have anything to do with amnesty for now because the Judicial Commission of Inquiry is still sitting.
“We are waiting for the commission to conclude its exercise so that we will bring to book the people involved. At no time in the course of my presentation did I ever mention anything to do with the issue of amnesty.
“I insist that these criminals must be fished out and they must not be left unpunished. We are waiting for the commission of inquiry to finalise its sittings. I will like to assure all and sundry that this government is focused and consistent on our search for peace and justice; justice must be done for people who have been offended.”
Al-Makura said what was even more disheartening was the fact that the misrepresentation came when government was interested in finding the root of the problem to be able to identify who are the culprits, their sponsors and financiers.
“We have gone all the way to constitute a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, do what we can to bring justice and bring the perpetrators to book”, he said.