POLICE CHIEF AMONG AMBUSH VICTIMS AS DEATH TOLL HITS 47

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deaths were recorded yesterday in the ambush of policemen and other security
agents at Alakyo, a village near Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

Their bodies, brought into a hospital in 10 ambulances, were
burnt beyond recognition.

Family members were confronted with the reality of the death of
their loved ones as they thronged the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia,
to identify the bodies.

The death toll in the Tuesday ambush of policemen and State
Security Service (SSS) operatives has risen to 47. It was initially put at 23.
A BBC report said 17 were declared missing, presumably dead.

An Assistant Commissioner of Police is among the dead.

Nasarawa Police Commissioner Abayomi Akeremale told reporters
that the casualty figure had increased to 30.

An on-line news publication, quoting top security sources, gave
the name of the Assistant Commissioner of Police as Mohammed Momoh.

The Nasarawa police spokesperson could not confirm Mr. Momoh’s
death but said he was missing.

The Directorate of State Security also said it had deployed a
search and rescue team to determine fatalities of its operatives involved in
the operation.

Akeremale told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in
Lafia that nine police patrol vehicles were burnt. He said some officers on the
patrol team were still missing.

He said no arrests had been made, adding: “But efforts are being
made to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to book.

“We believe that members of the group are still in the bush
around the area, and we would do all we can to smoke them out.”

Nasarawa State Governor Tanko al-Makura condoled with the
families of the slain policemen.

He described the killing of security men as “disheartening and
disturbing”.

A resident, Sani Musa Mairiga, said the cultists were forcing
local villagers to swear an oath of allegiance to the group.

The state police chief said 17 officers were still missing.

A source at the hospital where the bodies were taken told the
BBC dozens more policemen were killed in the attack.

Akeremale said about 60 police officers came under attack.

“We decided to send our men to the area to arrest members of
Ombatse, including their priest,” he told the AFP news agency.

“[They] have been going to churches and mosques initiating
people into their cult by forcibly administering an allegiance oath to
unwilling people.”

The police were attacked near the shrine to the traditional
deity of the Eggon people, in the village of Alakyo, near the state capital,
Lafia.

The Ombatse, which means “the time has come” in the Eggon
language, say they are fighting against social vices such as alcohol and
adultery.

The manhunt for the suspects yesterday paralysed the Akwanga
Lafia – Makurdi highway. Security agents combed the area for suspects.

Also yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan aborted his state
visit to Namibia, following security challenges in Borno, Nasarawa and Benue
states.

The President will meet with security chiefs on his return to
Abuja tonight.

There was tension on the Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi highway as
security agents combed Nasarawa Eggon for members of the Ombatse cult group.

There were fears that the cult group might have killed scores of
policemen and security agents who went to raid the shrine in Alakyo, a village,
which is about 10 kilometres to Lafia, Nasarawa State capital.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said: “In view of recent developments at home in
Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan has cut short his visit to South Africa
and aborted his state visit to Namibia which was due to start today.

“The President is returning to Abuja immediately to personally
oversee efforts by national security agencies to contain the fresh challenges
to national security which have emerged this week in Borno, Plateau and
Nassarawa states.

“President Jonathan will on arrival, meet with the Chief of
Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and heads of
national security services on arrival to review the security situation in the
country.”

After a five-hour siege along the highway, thousands of
commuters heading to Makurdi, Cross River State, Ebonyi, and many places in the
Southsouth were stranded.

A source, who was caught in the blockade, said: “I am on my way
to Makurdi, but I have been stranded along with thousands of commuters in
Akwanga for about five hours now(3pm).

“Security agencies have advised us against proceeding with the
journey to Lafia, Benue, Southsouth and Southeast because they have moved in to
curtail the Ombatse militia.

“The militia group has a base in Nasarawa Eggon where we will
all pass through to get to Lafia and other destinations in Benue, Southsouth
and the Southeast.

The source added: “We are suspecting a gun duel between the
militia and security agencies. We can not move an inch outside Akwanga.”

Another source said the death toll in Tuesday’s ambush of police
and other security agents many have been understated.

The source added: “Many decapitated bodies of policemen,
security agents and locals were still being mopped up on Thursday in Alakyo
village.

“The Everyone is living in fear in all parts of the state,
especially Lafia which the militia could overrun with their mystical powers.

“The head of the militia, Baba Alakyo, is reputed to have
mysterious powers which could make him vanish into thin air within seconds.”

Another source said: “The countdown to 2015 might have
aggravated the clash with the militia. They are demanding that power should
shift to Nasarawa Eggon in 2015 following fears that Al-Makura may want to seek
re-election.

“This is why it is necessary for the Federal Government to
ensure a full-scale investigation into the militia crisis in Nasarawa.”