By Kassim Omomia
The mysterious death of the key suspect of Offa robbery in Kwara state a former police personnel, Michael Adikwu has raised concern in the House of Representatives ,following which a probe has been launched.
At Thursday’s plenary, the House mandated its Committees on Police Affairs, Human Rights and Justice to carry out an investigative hearing into the facts surrounding the death.
The committee will determine the time, circumstances surrounding the death of the Offa robbery kingpin and report back in four weeks.
The lawmakers also resolved to probe into issues bothering on when the suspect died, how he died, why the police denied the facts of his death, at what point the police leadership discovered the death of the suspect and why the police are covering up the facts.
The decisions of the House followed a motion brought by Honorable Zakari Mohammed (PDP, Kwara) under matters of urgent national importance.
Debating the motion, Hon. Mohammed disclosed that the police initially confirmed to the Attorney General of Kwara State through the Police Public Relations Officer – Moshood Jimoh that the late Adikwu was alive and in custody and was helping the police in the investigations of the robbery that led to the killing of 22 people and recovery of firearms.
He explained that it took the police such a long time to announce the death of the key suspect.
He expressed concern that there have been inconsistencies in the various statements by the police and the possible cover up of this suspected extra-judicial killing with the aim of tarnishing the image of some innocent individuals for political purposes.
According to Zakari Mohammed, the fundamental duty of the police is to protect lives and property of all citizens irrespective of political affiliation.
Hon Mohammed further stressed that “It is the constitutional duty of this hallowed chamber to take action wherever such level of irresponsibility and recklessness of an important law enforcement agency such as the police have arisen in the course of investigations into a vicious crime”.
The motion which unanimously scaled through without debate due to its probe nature as requested by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara who presided, will unravel rights abuse, extra-judicial killings and manipulation of criminal investigation by the police.
It will be recalled that on the 5th of April, 2018, six robbery suspects led by one Michael Adikwu attacked five commercial banks in Offa, Kwara State. No fewer than 32 victims were recorded in the unfortunate attack.
