Police kill murderer of Kogi council PDP woman leader
The Joint Security Team in Kogi State has slain a renowned criminal, Kabir Bala, who murdered Mrs. Salome Abu, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) women leader, in November 2019 at her home in Ochadamu, Ofu Local Council.
Kogi State Commissioner of Police (CP), Akeem Yusuf, announced Wednesday while speaking to reporters at the state Police headquarters in Lokoja.
In October 2018, the Kogi State government gave pardon to one renowned gang leader, Kabir Bala alias (Okwo), in Ejule, Ofu Local Council, as part of rehabilitation.
Read More:
On the other hand, Bala remained an unrepentant criminal with several crimes attributed to him, including trading in illegal guns, kidnappings, and killings throughout the state.
Several crimes have been linked to him, including the burning alive of Mrs. Salome Abu, a PDP women leader in Ofu Council, in November 2019 at Ochadamu, and the death of two Igala youths, Umoru Abeh, and Unerwu Sule, on April 20, 2022, at Ejule.
“He also killed five Fulani herders namely: Ibrahim, Haruna, and Shuaibu along Alloma Road, Ofu Local Council in April 2022, and Muhammed and Dauda on March 3, 2023.
“Other crimes committed by Bala and his gang are attacks on troops of the Nigerian Navy and dispossessing them of four rifles at Alloma village on March 4, 2022. The firearms were later returned to the Navy following the high-powered intervention.
“Attack on Pastor and founder of Kingdom Faith Assembly, Ejule, Elisha Aya, on March 18, 2022, who later paid N1 million to Bala as a levy for establishing a Church and invasion of Egane Fulani settlement.
“Others are burning 213 huts, rustling of 122 cows on December 25, 2022, assault on the Lord’s Chosen Church, Ejule on January 29, 2023, for disturbing his hotel with their service, during which Joy Abuh, a worshipper sustained gunshot injury on her left hand,” the CP said.
According to the Commissioner, he was also responsible for many kidnappings along the Itobe-Anyigba route between May 5 and May 28, 2023. Based on the foregoing circumstances, the CP stated that a decision was reached at the State Security Council meeting on June 20, 2023, that the state pardon granted to Bala in 2018 be immediately rescinded, and security services must go after the criminal and arrest him promptly for trial.
In addition, all known Bala agents involved in criminal acts were to be captured and prosecuted. According to the Commissioner, they also decided that any illegal weaponry in the possession of criminals in that region should be collected in order for peace to rule in the state.
“Joint Operations comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police, DSS, and Civil Defence were set up to go after Kabir Bala and his gang to arrest them and recover the arms in their possession.
“Today, June 22, 2023, at about 0430hrs, in pursuit of the above, Bala and his gang members on sighting the Joint Security team opened fire on them and started shooting sporadically.
“The team engaged the hoodlums, the said Bala was neutralised in the process, while other members of his gang escaped with injuries.
“Items recovered from his premises include, one AK 47 rifle with three fully loaded magazines, six locally fabricated weapons, two phones, and charms,” he said. He said the ongoing onslaught against criminal activities would be sustained to ensure the safety of life and property in the state.
ADVERTISEMENT