Ombatse killings: Commission of Inquiry indicts Senator Ewuga, Rep, others; seeks prosecution

The Commission of Inquiry blamed the state government for not proscribing the Ombatse militia.
The Nasarawa State Commission of Inquiry on the Ombatse killings has recommended the immediate prosecution of a senator, Solomon Ewuga, representing Nasarawa North Senatorial District; and Haruna Kigbu, a House of Representative member representing Lafia Obi Federal Constituency.

In the commission’s report, submitted last week, excerpts of which was made available to PREMIUM TIMES, officials of Eggon Cultural Development Association, ECDA, and Eggon Youth Movement, EYM, were also indicted as promoters of the militia group.

The commission said it discovered that Mr. Ewuga and other notable Eggon elders are financiers and promoters of the Ombatse militia that killed 64 police officers and 10 officials of the State Security Service at Alakyo Village on May 7, 2013.

The security officials were killed on a mission to dislodge the Ombatse, an Eggon ethnic militia, from their base in Alakyo.

Also recommended for prosecution is Nathaniel Mesa, a Nasarawa House of Assembly member representing Lafia North constituency.

The Commission recommended “that all persons on the stated list who appeared before the Commission whether as summoned witnesses or memoranda witnesses and intentionally gave false evidence on oath before the Commission should be prosecuted forthwith under
Section 158(1) of the Penal Code Law (as applicable in Nasarawa State)”.

“Their false testimonies were calculated to misdirect the Commission and prevent it from making proper findings on its Terms of Reference. The law qualifies such false evidence as an act to pervert the cause
of justice”.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission is particularly recommending the following persons for immediate prosecution under the section given the high social standing of the persons who are least expected to misdirect the cause of justice: Senator Solomon Sunday Akku Ewuga, Hon. Dr. Haruna Joseph Kigbu, Hon. Nathaniel Agyo Mesa,” the Commission said in its report.

The Commission said it found that the security operatives were killed with fire- arms and cutlass, not spiritually, as purported.

It blamed the federal government for failing to save the lives of citizens and the state government for not proscribing the Ombatse militia.

“Federal Government’s unemphatic concern over the Alakyo killings even when its agents were the victims has not helped in the containment of violence in the State. The Federal Government’s attitude has given room for tendentious interpretations (largely of a political nature).

“Due to lax enforcement of the law by the relevant component units of the State’s criminal justice system, namely, the law enforcement agencies (especially the police), the Ministry of Justice and the
Courts, obvious perpetrators of violence have been left unencumbered and emboldened to remain what they are”

The Commission also blamed the Nasarawa State Government for the continuation of the activities of the group. It blamed the government for the high rate of unemployment in the state, non-provision of adequate security, and lack of good criminal justice system.

The commission added that from credible evidence, Ombatse is not a deity or cultural practice. It said the involvement of political forces has made it relevant.

It also said that the non-implementation of previous committee reports gave the group the impunity to carry out their nefarious activities without hindrances.

“Delayed and non-implementation of recommendations in the Reports of earlier Commissions of Inquiry has contributed to the patent disregard of Government authority with respect to the ban,” it said.