From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
There is a sigh of relief in Kogi State following the elimination of a notorious, highly toxic criminal, Kabir Bala, who had been terrorising the state. Commissioner of Police, Akem Yusuf, said in Lokoja that the decision to go after the suspect was consequent upon the state security resolution to arrest his criminal activities.
He said the suspect was granted state pardon in 2018, hopping that he would turn a new leaf: “But Kabir Bala remained an unrepentant criminal with lots of atrocities traced to him which included dealing in illegal arms, kidnappings and killings.
“Due to the various crimes linked to him, a decision was reached at the State Security Council meeting on June 20, 2023, to revoke the state pardon he enjoyed. In the light of this, security agencies were detailed to go after him and arrest him for prosecution.
“High-profile cases traced to him included the infamous burning alive of Salome Abu, a PDP woman leader in Ofu Local Government at her residence in Ochadamu on November 18, 2019, as well as the killing of two Igala youths, Umoru Areh and Unekwu Sule on April 20, 2022, at Ejule.
“The suspect was also responsible for the killing of five Fulani herdsmen namely; Ibrahim, Haruna and Shuaibu along Alloma Road, Ofu LG in April, 2022 and Muhammed and Dauda at Imoko also in Ofu LG on March 3, 2023.
“He was a principal suspect in the attack on troops of the Nigerian Navy, including dispossessing them of four rifles at Alloma on March 4, 2022. The firearms were recovered and returned to the Navy following a high-powered intervention.
“Bala was also a suspect in the attack on the founder of Kingdom Faith Assembly, Ejule on March 18, 2022. He and his gang collected N1million as levy for establishing a church on December 25, 2022.
“The suspect also led the assault on the Lord’s Chosen Church, Ejule, on January 29, 2023 for disturbing his hotel with their activities, during which a worshipper sustained gunshot injury on her left hand.
“Bala was responsible for the kidnapping of seven persons along Itobe-Anyigba highway from May 5 to 28, 2023. All illegal arms in the
possession of criminals in that area must be recovered in the interest of peace.
“Today, June 22, 2023, at about 0430hrs in pursuit of the above, the Kabir Bala and his gang members on sighting the Joint Security team opened fire on them. The team engaged the hoodlums. The said Kabir Bala was neutralised in the process while other members of his gang escaped with varying degrees of injuries.
“Items recovered from included one AK 47 rifle with three fully loaded magazines, six locally fabricated weapons, two phones and charms.”