At least 20 people including the Political
godfather of former Governor Gabriel Suswam,
and elder statesman, Chief Atoza Ihindan, were
yesterday killed by some unknown gunmen in
Katsina Ala town in Katsina-Ala local government area of the state.
Saturday Sun gathered that Ihindan, a Peoples
Democratic Party, (PDP) stalwart had gone to
inspect a perimeter fence he was building along
Government Secondary School Katsina -Ala at
about 2pm when two armed men, rode on a
motorcycle and shot at him point blank, killing
him on the spot.
Our source said by the time the dust settled,
some people were killed while the gunmen
escaped in the midst of the pandemonium
leaving residents to scamper for safety.
Narrating how Ihindan was killed, a resident who pleaded anonymity said, “They stormed the
place in a commando style, and killed him on the spot.
“The old man was with his aide and a police
escort who had noticed the armed men, and
made desperate effort to defend Chief, but he
was overpowered by the well armed men
because they had superior fire power.
“The gunmen eventually succeeded in killing the
old man after shooting his police escort who was seriously injured and in critical condition at a public hospital in Katsina/ Ala at the moment.”
Our source explained further that after the armed men successfully killed the
septuagenarian and Second Republic lawmaker,
they escaped without any resistance while
noting that some gun men had about the same
time stormed Yoyo Council Ward of Katsina-Ala
and started shooting sporadically in every
direction.
Also, on Thursday night, it was gathered that
some armed bandits were said to have raided a
beer parlour at a Market Square in Tor Donga
area of Katsina- Ala where they killed 12 persons
including a woman, who was the bar attendant
and her one year old baby on the spot.
“After raiding and killing their victims at the
drinking spot, the gang sped off on their
motorbike and continued shooting
indiscriminately at any human being they came
across, or anyone that dared to stop them and
that led to the killing of another seven persons
including a teacher in one of the local schools in
the community.”
At the time of filling this report, it was not clear
whether it’s the same gunmen who had been
going round Katsina-Ala local government and
killing people but within the last 48 hours, more
than 20 persons including a couple who were
having their dinner are said to have been killed
by the yet to be identified gunmen in the area.
Asked who could be responsible for the recent
rise in the spate of killings in the area, our
source said, “no one is sure of anything now,
because so much rumours and stories are flying
but we expect the Police to unravel the mystery
and stop this unending killings in Katsina/Ala
before everyone resort to self help.
“The way we are going, anarchy is looming, the
killing of Chief Ihindan is one too many, we also
recall that a top Police Officer from the Force
Headquarters who was a member of the Task
Force on Kidnapping and cow rustling, on a
special mission to the state was also killed here
few weeks back by unknown armed men.
“As I speak with you there is palpable tension in
the whole of Katsina/ Ala and other neigbouring
towns and communities over the killing of Chief
Ihindan and if something is not done very fast
this might snowball into a major bloodbath”, the
source added.
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Samuel Ortom
has condemned the spate of killings going on in
Katsina- Ala local government area council and
environs in recent times.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on
Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua and made
available to Saturday Sun, the Governor
lamented the trend of assassinations in the area
and described it as unacceptable.
He expressed sadness over the killing of Ihindan
whom he said had a reservoir of knowledge in
politics and would be greatly missed and called
on security agencies to nip the situation in the
bud with a view to bringing the perpetrators of
the dastardly acts to book.
Hindan who is an erstwhile member of the
Benue State House of Assembly left behind three wives, many children and grand children.
When contacted, the State Police Commissioner
Hyacinth Dagala who confirmed the killing of the
septuagenarian disclosed that he was killed
under a tree while inspecting a perimeter fence
on his plot of land with his aide and police
orderly when unidentified men on a motorbike
shot him.
Dagala also disclosed that the command
recorded the killing of a woman and a child by
some unknown gunmen in Tor Donga explaining
that a manhunt for the masterminds of the
killings had already commenced.

Biafra?

Good! Suswam shld be next. #i hate evil, love justice