2007 MURDER OF HON. VICTOR OBAFAIYE AND ALH JIMOH ASIMI IN KABBA/BUNU LGA: A CALL FOR JUSTICE AND IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF POLICE INVESTIGATION AS CORROBORATED BY THE US BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOUR ON 11TH MARCH 2008.
Good day gentlemen of the press.
We are delighted that you are able to honour our invitation for this conference despite the short notice.
This press conference is in response to a petition addressed to us, the Coalition Civil Society Organizations on Monday, October 23, 2023 from bereaved families whose loved ones were murdered in cold blood and living survivors from the violence allegedly instigated by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its House of Representatives candidate for Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency of Kogi State in 2007, in the person of Mr. Dino Melaye as corroborated by the United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour report released to the public on 11th March, 2008
From what we gathered and painstakingly took time to investigate, and as reported by Sahara Reporters and other news platforms, two persons namely Mr. Jimoh Asimi and one Hon. Obafaiye lost their lives in questionable circumstances, arising from the violence that greeted the conduct of the 2007 House of Representatives election in which Dino Melaye, now the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the November 11 election was declared winner and murder that happened a fortnight to cross-examination date of star witness against the case at the Election petition tribunal.
On the day of election, heavily armed thugs allegedly sponsored by Mr. Melaye invaded Kabba/Bunu local government of Kogi and murdered Alh Jimoh Asimi, who was one of the agents of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) at Akefe polling unit of Aiyeteju/Kajola ward in Kabba/Bunu LGA
That is not all, they equally allegedly desecrated his body by taking it away and dumped it somewhere around Specialist Hospital in Kabba and the alleged culprits are still today walking the street without Justice being done to the case. Also during the attack, many voters sustained serious injuries while others escaped by whiskers. The people who sustained different degrees of injury are still alive with pictorial and video evidence to proof their claims.
As we speak today, that case 16 years down the line has been swept under the carpet without the known perpetrators being served justice. Some of those who escaped that bloody attack are still alive today and are willing to offer the needed assistance with the investigation at the due time. One of them is Hon. Kayode Omosanyi, better known as Olu Kay Mr Lebro
After the election which was proclaimed “won” by the blood of innocent people, the candidate of ACN at the election, Hon. Richard Akanmode approached the tribunal, seeking the nullification of the election because of the large scale violence and irregularities that marred it.
While in the tribunal, Hon. Akanmode had a star witness who saw the violence happen and how his kinsmen escaped death with one unlucky victim murdered. His name is Hon. Victor Obafaiye who was equally an agent of the ACN.
It may interest you to note that just a day to his appearance before the tribunal slated for Monday, he got a strange call on Sunday night, instructing him to come outside his house. That was the last that was heard of him as he was also murdered in cold blood and his head smashed. Residents were shocked to see his lifeless body lying motionless the next day at Odolu area of Kabba.
Families of these two gentlemen murdered in these circumstances are still bleeding in their hearts. The souls of their breadwinners are yet to find rest because justice has not been served on their behalf.
It is also on record that the United States Department of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour report of 11th March, 2008 alluded to the murder of Mr Obafaiye in strange circumstances as reported by several news platforms in Nigeria and abroad.
We are also aware from reliable sources that the Nigerian Police Authority carried out investigation on the said matti, but the public and victims of the dastardly attack are superised that sixteen years down the lane, no report has been given by the Police and no single person as been apprehended for such a serious crime against humanity.
It is on this premise that they approached us to amplify their voices, to help their murdered ones get justice.
OUR DEMANDS
1, We call on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun to order the relevant authority involved in the investigation to make their report public or at best direct the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State Command and the DPO in charge of Kabba/Bunu to commence fresh investigation on the circumstances surrounding the death of the gentlemen mentioned above, if the previous committee cannot be trusted, in the interest of justice
2, That the alleged mastermind of the attack, Mr. Dino Melaye be immediately arrested and prosecuted for among other things murder.
3, That all those involved in causing the 2007 mayhem either directly or indirectly be made to face justice.
Interestingly, the perpetrators are still alive and those who saw them unleash the mayhem are still there to testify in the court.
This has become even more necessary in view of the violent threats from the candidate of the PDP and his agents in the Nov. 11 governorship election in Kogi. We have received report that suggest that he has paid some known cultists who belong to a particular confraternity led by his Personal Assistant, Mr Rotimi Adedayo aka Teller who has been identified as one of the people that unleashed violence in the 2007 violence that led to the murder of the two gentlemen
We do not want a repeat of the 2007 scenario especially at a moment when we should be consolidating on the gains of our democratic journey since 1999. We do not wish to be taken to the dark days when people sat on mandates of blood and tears.
A quick action from the Inspector General of Police could save the day.
Thank you.
Wisdom Chinedu,
Convener,
Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Nigeria
