THIS LIFE

How Northerners killed Okpe-Isoko poly student over wife, by Oboh

MY name is Chief Oboh Clifford Johnson, the father of late Oghene Rukome Dapo Johnson. I am a native of Okpe-Isoko in Isoko North local government area of Delta State. But I am currently working with Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia in Nasarawa State as a dentist.

My late son, Rukome was roasted like a common goat by a tribe called Afor in Onda-Wayo in Mararaba-Udege Development Area of Nasarawa State. Before his death, he was married to one Rebecca Obende Samuel, who hails from Apau in Agwada Development Area of the state. The said marriage was blessed with one child whose name is Ewomazino Dapo Johnson (daughter).

On October 2, 2012, the late Rukome left Nasarawa town where he was a student of chemical engineering in Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa-town to Apau in Agwada Development Area of Nasarawa State to visit his in-laws.

On his way, he was arrested by the village vigilante group in Onda-Wayo in Mararaba Udege Development Area of Nasarawa State. The vigilance group alleged that he was in possession of a stolen motorcycle. The question is that Sani Onga Osu, who claimed to be the bonafide owner of the said motorcycle; how comes he was able to see when Rukome took the machine away, know the direction of Rukome and at the same time alerted his brother, Ali Onga, who was able to stop, identified his brother’s motorcycle and arrested Rukome with the machine? I think this look to me as set up plan to nail the late Rukome. From information gathered, it was learnt that Mr. Ali Onga had previously proposed marriage to Miss Rebecca Obende Samuel, who was said to have refused the proposal before the late Rukome Dapo Johnson, who hails from Delta State approached Rebecca for marriage and she consented. We learnt right from that time, Mr. Ali Onga has been nursing grudges against Mr. Rukome Dapo Johnson. Besides, it has also been gathered that the ordinary Afor Tribe does not like outsiders to marry their daughters; hence, this terrible plan put up to kill the said late Rukome Johnson.

Come to think of it, when he was brought before the chairman of the vigilante group in Mararaba-Udege, my son confessed that he was not a thief; that he was only going to his in-laws’ house in Agwada. According to the story, two vigilante men were sent to see Mrs. Suzanna, the mother of Rebecca to confirm if Rukome Dapo Johnson was actually marrying her daughter. Mrs. Suzanna Obende Samuel confirmed that yes Rukome Dapo was marrying her daughter but as long as he has been arrested with a machine, she did not know him. So, this was the first signal given by his purported in-law to have the boy killed. I think this woman and her husband should be arrested for questioning as I suspect that they know something about the boy’s death. My reason is that the third day that the boy was confirmed dead, Mrs. Rebecca who has been staying with me in Nasarawa-town ran away with my son’s daughter to her parents in Agwada Development Area. And up till now, I have not set my eyes on her again, though I put up a call through one of her uncles, one Mr. Samuel Ezin, who confirmed my agitation.

Now, back to the chairman of the vigilante group’s house, Alh. Azuma Okah, Ali Onga, Madaki Ebagune, Gaiya Sani, and one Mr. Agbawu adjudicated the case and the said chairman found my son guilty of the offence and passed a death sentence on him. My son was not given an opportunity to fair hearing and he handed over to one Mr. Ali Onga who led him away for kill. Mr. Agbawu fired him two gunshots, according to our sources; and as if that was not enough, Mr. Ali, who has been nursing grudges against him concerning Rebecca had the opportunity he was looking for to revenge. From all indications, it was like giving a dog a bad name just to hang it. The whole story is hanged on the said Rebecca, and not the motorcycle. If not, look at the anger, vexation used in killing him.

He was not only killed, his heart, private parts and two eyes were removed – for what? His corpse also burnt beyond recognition! His body was dumped in the thick forest of Onda-Wayo/Kana, all in Mararaba-Udege Development Area. It took the police a serious search of nine days before they recovered his charred remains. The question, therefore, comes to mind, is there any part of our National Constitution that gives vigilante group power to arrest, maimed and kill?

Rukome Dapo Johnson was set up just because he is not an indigene of Afor land. I, therefore, suggest that the law of the land should take its course to avert this dastard and barbaric killing.

Police probe death

POLICE in Nasarawa State, recently, commenced investigations into the alleged killing of the 25-year-old chemical engineering student of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa , Mr. Rukome Johnson, by suspected members of Mararaba Vigilance Group in Udege area of the state.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abayomi Akeremale, who announced this in a press release issued in Lafia, a copy of which was made available to us, said investigations by the police showed that the victim was stoned to death and later burnt. According to the release, which was signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Michael Ada, the police detectives were deployed to Agwada/ Ondo Wayo road on October 2 for intelligence gathering, with a view to unraveling the circumstances that led to his mysterious disappearance.

“The late Rukome Johnson was said to have left Nasarawa town on the ill-fated day to Agwada area to see his in-law, who resides there, only not to return. The detectives demonstrated their skills and professionalism when they discovered his charred remains in a thick forest located in Onda Wayo village.

“The brief fact was that the victim was arrested by members of vigilance group of Mararaba Udege development area. He was alleged to be in possession of a stolen motorcycle. The victim, alongside one Sani Osu, who claimed to be bonafide owner of the motorcycle purported to have been stolen by the former were taken to the house of one Azuma Okah to adjudicate the case.”