No amnesty for Ombatse militia, says Al-Makura‬

The Ombatse are accused of killing scores of security officials

The Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, has denied reports that his administration was considering granting amnesty to the disbanded ‘Ombatse’ militia in the state.‬

‪The governor, who was speaking in Abuja, said the statement credited to him, when he was delivering a lecture at the Institute for Security Studies, Bwari, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, was calculated to drag the integrity of his administration in the mud and rubbish efforts by the state government to find a lasting solution to the nefarious activities of the group.‬

‪”I feel really worried about this misrepresentation, because nothing can be further from my views and mindset that I and my administration are bent on bringing the criminals and perpetrators to book,” the governor said.

“The statement credited to me will amount to pre-empting the work of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.”

‪He said the committee was constituted by the state government to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the killings at Alakyo community of security personnel who were on routine duty in the area, and also to unmask their sponsors.‬

‪The governor noted that he only implored security agents to intensify efforts at recovering arms that were illegally in the possession of members of the militia group and other unauthorised persons.‬

‪Mr. Al-Makura expressed regrets for any inconveniences the report may have caused the public, especially the victims of the attack; saying the Commission investigating the killings was committed to get to the roots of the circumstances that led to the dastardly killing of the security operatives in the area.`‬

‪”This administration will continue to maintain peaceful coexistence among the diverse ethnic groups in the state. It will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators and their sponsors to book,’’ he said.

(NAN)‬