The sad incident that happened on the 5th of April, Thursday evening this year was not only amazing but unprecedented in the history of the state of harmony. Yes, there were several bank robbery incidents in many part of this country and even kwara state in the past in which Offa as community was not spared. The ancient town was attacked on few occasions. But the style of this last operation, mode of shooting and number of causality involved was very devastating and can not be easily forgotten in the mind of the people.
How the innocent people who were not even within the banks premises were pursued and chased all over the Owode area by the blood thirsty killers are still very surprising to many and kept prompting unanswered questions about the whole robbery saga and the motive behind it.
The operation which lasted for less than two hours without any resistance from any quarter, the total amount of money stolen from all the banks robbed put together did not reach Twenty million Naira according to the official report. But unfortunately, 33 precious life of innocent people were taken in cold blood.
The huge number of the victims and the professional ways of shooting them in their heads to give little or no room for their survival, give many of us sleepless nights, wondering why armed robbery gang will kill 33people only because of less than #20million. It was too strange than what a normal reasoning can comprehend.
What came to our mind then was that the callousness is nothing but a terrorist attack or terrorism on Offa people.
Since that time we have been painstakingly monitoring the Police investigation into the wickedness of highest order, and patiently waiting for the truth.
With the recent developments and arrest of the gang by police force, we were much confident of a logical conclusion to the investigation. But when it was made public that the gang leaders are Senator Bukola Saraki "good boys " and with the purported role plaid by Governor Fatai Ahmed chief of Staff and Personal Assistant in concealing the evidence and exhibit in Govt House, the whole episodes look more clearer that the attack may not be Armed robbery after all, but a
RITUAL KILLING.
The past events in kwara state should put no one in doubt of Ritual killing once General Election are around the corner. This refresh our memories of STAMPED AT MANDATE OFFICE OF SEN BUKOLA SARAKI in the year 2011 where several life of innocent kwarans were lost, in the year 2014 another set of killing in the name of stamped also happened, this time in GREAT HALL OR ILE ARUGBO OR WHATEVER NAME IT IS CALLED. Many life ware also lost and nothing happened to any one there after.
The Offa killing could be another dimension of the rituals, so Nigeria Police should shield more light on this angle.
When it was reported that Senate President was the first top government functionary that went to console Offa people in less than three days of the incident through his visit to Olofa's Palace and on that very visit three of the five gang leaders were in his entourage. This definitely cause for more investigation to verify the motive of the killings. Because even as the Gov of the state, he never responded so swiftly to any of the community adversities in the past.
The comments by some people claiming traditional representation of Offa, attacking the Police and cautioning the Force not to use Offa robbery as a political tools to witch-hunt the Senator and the former Governor, who they said chose Offa as his second home is highly unfortunate and fall short of the standard Offa community is known for. But the quick response of some prominent and respected indegines who countered the reckless comments of those people who are always seeking patronage both politically and financially from the Government at the state, is a serious relief. According to the concern Offa citizens
"We were however alarmed to observe different methods adopted by some interest groups to distract the Nigeria Police Force from carrying out a thorough investigation on the matter. Particularly worrisome was the press statement issued by the National Officers of the Offa Descendants Union, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, the National President and Chief Mrs Wosilat Macauthy, the National Secretary respectively, exonerating Dr. Bukola Saraki from any complicity over the incident. Also, the painstaking attempt made by the duo of High Chief Bayo Akinola, the Ojomu of Oloffa and Dr Tajudeen Oloyede, the Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to the Oloffa of Offa purportedly claiming to be speaking for the Oloffa of Offa by exonerating Dr. Bukola Saraki from any involvement in the robbery saga represents a very sad commentary in the the history of the town. The pertinent question here is whose interest is the Oloffa-in-Council trying to serve on this ugly incident?Absolving Dr. Bukola Saraki of any accessory to crime of this nature is not only an attempt to preempt, out of place but a self-serving move to distract the attention of the security agencies."
In a similar manner, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of FUT Minna wrote "OFFA, the Knowledge Capital of Kwara State! The Home of Sons and Daughters in ALL known Academic, Professional' and Religious Endeavours. Reported to harbor PRINCIPLED sons and daughters who never sacrificed PRINCIPLE for EXPEDIENCES (temporary gains); who developed their Community inspite of neglect by governments at various times.
Welcome to New (?) Offa, which is rapidly transmutting (forced change) to a community of BOOT LICKERS who are ready to and in fact already sacrificing Principle for Crumbs and temporary wannabes. For evidence of this transmutation, see the Press Statements of the following (leaders?) on the current situation: a respected Traditional Chief, National Secretary of ODU, Chairman Local Government, past and present, Member of National Assembly and Olofa himself! This is completely NOT our character. Allah will restore the DIGNITY and INTEGRITY of our Beloved OFFA in our lifetime."
-Prof Musbau Akanji
When similar political pretence and witch-hunt was raised by same Senate President when some arrested cultists terrorising Ilorin city were apprehended which also happened to be part of his "good boys", and were taken to force headquarters in Abuja for further investigation, the response from Ilorin Emirate Development Progressive Union (IEDPU) (where Sen. Bukola came from), The National President, Ambassador Abdul Aziz didn't in anyway condemn The Police Force, he rather commended the Police Force and begged them to clean the Ilorin city of all the criminal elements while concluded that any person implicated should clear his or her name, little wonders the unforgiving statements credited to some traditional people of Offa.
On the issue of witch hunting, Chief Femi Falana SAN captured it all he said: “In any neo-colonial setting, the rich and the politically exposed persons politicize their trials. A group of young men who engaged in the most nefarious offense in Kwara state that led to the death of 33 people including pregnant women and policemen has linked the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Kwara state governor, Abdul fatah Ahmed, to their acts. Where is the politics in all these? These young men are saying that the vehicles we used were bought for us by these two gentlemen.
“Investigation into the matter was on when the Senate president raised the alarm over alleged plans by the police to implicate him. He knew what was being investigated at that point in time when he raised the alarm. At that time, the chief of staff of Kwara who was accused of making efforts to re-register the vehicle used by the bandits was already in detention. So, I can’t see the political victimization. The Senate president should first address the allegations, we can talk about politics later”.
The Police Force is hereby implore to look critically to the angle of RITUAL KILLING AS IT AFFECTS THE ON GOING INVESTIGATION INTO OFFA ROBBERY OF LAST APRIL AND SHOULD DO SAME IN THE CASES OF MANY OTHER MASS KILLINGS IN THE STATE THAT ARE ET-HERTO SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET.
THE ENTIRE OFFA PEOPLE AND ALL KWARANS AT LARGE ARE EAGERLY YEARNING FOR THE CURB OF SERIAL KILLING IN THE STATE, EITHER IN DISGUISE AS CULTISTS KILLING, FAKE STAMPED, ARMED ROBBERY OR ANY FORM
