Kabir Bala, alias Okwo,
By Our Reporter
To majority of the people in Kogi State, its a good decelopment that nemesis finally caught up with notorious Kogi thug and erstwhile Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Kabir Bala, alias Okwo, who allegedly evaded arrest for three years, after burning the woman leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mrs Salome Abuh, to death, to a few others, the late youth leader was not killed because of the atrocities committed but on political grounds.
Okwo who was one of the political foot soldiers of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, as the Youth Leader of APC, defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) when the governor allegedly declined on his promise to return power to the Igalla dominated Kogi East after his eight years.
The governor it was said supported the emergence of his maternal cousin, Ahmed Usman Ododo who emerged as the governorship candidate of the APC in Kogi State.
Governor Bello allegedly promised to zone power to Kogi East if his political associates from the area support him to win his second term.in 2019
” Yes, Kabir Bala Okwo, the former APC youth leader fell out with Governor Yahaya Bello for switching allegiance to SDP candidate who was the former deputy publicity secretary of APC, Hon. Murtala Ajaka, who defected to SDP after being denied ticket by the Governor ”
NATIONAL WAVES gathered that Okwo engaged some security operatives in gun battle and was killed in the process.
Sources informed this medium that suspected Gunmen invaded Ejule town in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing many residents in the process.
A resident in the community, said four of the gunmen were killed, a commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as okada rider, and the wife of a youth leader in the community, were reportedly killed in the attack.
” Yes I can tell you that the streets and town,of Ejule Kogi State are agog with different tales of the inhumane activities of gunmen”
“As at today 23rd June 2023, a total number of 10 people have been killed in Ejule town in Ofu local government of the State”
“The town which has remained under siege since the early hours of Thursday 22nd June with all access roads blocked with bonfires, sounds of bullets from AK-47 riffles renting the air while innocent, unarmed and helpless indigenes including women and children ran for safety from the gun shots from gunmen”.
“I can also tell you categorically that four of the gunmen were killed, two other people have been identified, an okada rider and the wife of a known youth in the town have been confirmed dead as a result of the early morning attack”
“The situation is still tense, but more dead bodies are sighted on the streets. No one can go out now,” a resident told our correspondent on the telephone.
Sumaila Agulu, popularly known as Sumaila Inspector has been appointed by the APC to replace the notirious late youth leader
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police Akeem Yusuf said at security press briefing in Lokoja that Okwo was killed by the police on Thursday morning when he and his gang members, on sighting the joint security team, opened fire on them and started shooting sporadically.
CP Yusuf recalled that Bala, aka Okwo who pardoned in October 2018 by the Kogi State Government, had remained an unrepentant criminal.
CP Yusuf said the deceased criminal was dealing in illegal arms and was responsible for kidnappings and killings in the state.
He said: “Several cases had been traced to him, such as the burning alive of Mrs Salome Abuh, PDP woman leader in Ofu LGA, at her residence on November 18, 2019, in Ochadamu; the killing of two Igala youths, Umoru Areh and Unekwu Sule, on April 20, 2022, at Ejule; the killing of five Fulani herders, namely, Ibrahim, Haruna, and Shuaibu along Alloma Road, Ofu LGA, in April 2022; and Muhammed and Dauda at Imoko in Ofu LGA on March 3, 2023.
“Other crimes committed by Kabir Bala and his gang include the attack on troops of the Nigerian Navy and dispossessing them of four rifles at Alloma village on March 4, 2022. Though the firearms were later returned to the Navy following a high-powered intervention; an attack on Elisha Aya, pastor and founder of Kingdom Faith Assembly Ejule on March 13, 2022, who later paid one million naira to Bala as a levy for. establishing a church; an invasion of Egane Fulani settlement, burning 213 huts and rustling 122 cows on December 25, 2022.”
Other crimes of the late Kabir Bala include the assault on the Lord’s Chosen Church, Ejule, on January 29, 2023, for disturbing his hotel with their service, during which Joy Abuh, one of the worshippers, sustained a gunshot injury on her left hand.
He was also alleged to be responsible for seven kidnappings along the Itobe-Anyigba highway between May 5 and 28, 2023.
According to the Commissioner of Police, the state pardon granted to Kabir Bala in 2018 was revoked at the State Security Council meeting held on June 20, 2023.
Security agencies were subsequently directed to arrest him immediately for prosecution.
Divulging the other resolutions from the State Security Meeting, CP Yusuf said: “All known agents of Kabir Bala in criminal activities must be apprehended to face the law. All illegal arms in the possession of criminals in that area should be recovered for the peace of the State. Joint operations should be set up comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police, DSS and Civil Defence to go after Kabir Bala and his gang to arrest them and recover the arms in their possession.”
Items recovered from the deceased include an AK-47 rifle with three fully loaded magazines, six locally fabricated weapons, two mobile phones, and charms.
CP Yusuf reiterated that the ongoing onslaught against criminal activities will be sustained to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the state.
