Adamawa State Governor Offers N25 For Information Leading To Igbo Killers

There is a N25million (100k GBP) reward for information leading to  unmasking the brains behind the spate of killings in Adamawa State.

The reward is courtesy of Governor Murtala Nyako .

At least 43 people have been killed in the state since Thursday.The latest victims,16 in all, were murdered on Friday night during a service at the Christ Apostolic Church,Yola,the state capital.

Twenty-two people described as mourners had been killed earlier in the day at Mubi in the state by gunmen while meeting at the residence of a man who had been shot dead on Thursday to plan for his burial.

Four other persons died in the Thursday attack on an hotel in the town.The Boko Haram sect claimed responsibility for the Mubi killings.

Governor Nyako ,in a state wide broadcast,called the killing of innocent people by Boko Haram as a declaration of war on good by evil.

He apologised to the government and people of Anambra State,where majority of victims of the Mubi massacre hailed from and promised to offset the cost of their burial hospital bill of the injured.

He begged non-indigenes not to leave the state saying  adequate steps would be taken to protect life and property.

He said: “It is with a very heavy heart that I am addressing you on the unprecedented security situation in the state. It is only a year ago that the was state was being adjudged as the most peaceful and secured in the North-East political zone. The state has enjoyed very cordial relationship among all persons residing in the state.

“Unfortunately, we are presently witnessing a spate of wanton killing unheard of in the state. In the last four days in the state, the state has suddenly started experiencing the following disastrous acts.

“One, a robbery in a residential building in Mubi on Wednesday 4th January 2012 left an Igbo man and his son dead while the robbers went away with large sums of money.

“Two, about the same day, there was a robbery at Mubi Cattle Market where many people were robbed.

“On the evening of 5th January 2012, three men- two Igbo men and a Yoruba man- were shot dead at a beer parlour in Mubi.

“Fourth, on the morning of 6th January 2012, while a group was planning the burial of the two Igbo men killed, gunmen opened fire killing 11 people.

“Fifth, same day in the evening, an attack at the Apostolic Church Jimeta, Yola left 12 people dead.

“Fellow citizens, there are no reasons, let alone excuses, for these murders. For the cold blooded killing of these people and others now in hospital and clinics.

“The first set of those acts which were meted to persons of same ethnic and religious background, clearly meant to provoke us to consider the motive of the murders as ethnic or religious. We are not accepting that.

“These are evil and criminal acts, clearly horrible, ill-motivated and irreligious. The perpetrators are merely hiding under the guise of religion and ethnicity to cause disaffection among the people of Adamawa State.

“Whoever conceived these did so with the aim of disturbing the peace we enjoy in the state with its attendant adverse effects on security, harmony and socio-economic progress of the state. We must face the evil persons behind them squarely. They will not be allowed to destroy our dream of a peaceful and prosperous Adamawa State.

“Let me at this juncture announce a N25m award to any individual or group who provides credible information that leads to the arrest of the perpetrators of these crimes.

“I appeal to all non-indigenes of Adamawa, especially our Igbo, Yoruba and corper brothers and sisters, not to contemplate leaving the state but go about their normal businesses.

“The security agencies have taken all necessary steps to protect lives and property of everybody in the state.

 “Let me also appeal to all concern not to take the law into their hands here in the state or outside the state. We are reaching out to our colleagues in other states to cooperate with us in soothing the obviously frayed nerves and angry relatives of the deceased.

“I send to them, especially the relatives of the deceased, and the maimed, the Government and people of Anambra State our deepest condolences. We also extend such condolences to the relatives of the victims of other criminal acts.

“I hereby assure you that the Adamawa State Government will bear all the burial and medical expenses on behalf of the families of those involved.