The Chief Priest of the Ombatse cult group in Lakyo, Nasarawa South Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Ala Agu, on Wednesday said that security men that invaded the community were ordered by the state governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, to kill him.

The 76-year-old Agu, popularly called Baba Lakyo, spoke with journalists on Wednesday at Lakyo during a visit of Senator Solomon Ewuga (Nasarawa North Senatorial District) to the community.

The chief priest, who spoke through an interpreter, said the security operatives did not come to arrest him, but to kill him “and cut off my head and take it to the governor.”

“It is the governor that asked the people (police officers) to come here and arrest me, cut my head and take my head to him.

“When they came, because they were themselves drunk, my god did not allow them to come to me and they died on the way.

“The question I asked is, ‘has the governor ever invited me and I refused to go?’ If am invited, I will go. But he sent people to come and kill me and to destroy Lakyo as a whole. That is just what it is.”

Al-Makura had rushed to the Presidential Villa, Abuja on May 8, 2013 to brief Vice-President Nnamadi Sambo on the security situation in the state, saying that 20 policemen were killed in Lakyo by cultists.

The governor had said that members of Ombatse laid ambush and killed security agents sent to arrest the members in their shrine.

On Wednesday, Baba Lakyo said that he had never been invited by security agencies, contrary to reports that the police invaded the village after he shunned their invitation.

The chief priest said that he was willing to honour any invitation either by the governor or the police.

Although Lakyo is peaceful, besides the sight of burnt vehicles used by the security men, Agu said he was unhappy with what happened and was apprehensive of what might befall him afterwards.

Ewuga toured Lakyo community, and led reporters to the home of Agu, which represents the “shrine” of the Ombatse.

Agu however denied ever forcing people to join the group through any initiation or drinking of concoction.

“I am grateful for your coming, Senator. I am very, very grateful for your coming. Even if the Senator did not come here, I had intended to go and see him in his house but since he is here, I am very grateful,” he told the senator.

Agu also said that he was in a nearby village when the incident took place only for him to come back to be informed that the governor sent people to come and kill him.

Asked whether the incident had anything to do with the politics of the state, he said, “If you are talking about politics, it does not bother me. I don’t even understand Hausa language. Politics is not for me because I am not a politician. Politics is for politicians but I hear that the time for politicking has not even come.

“If I ever opened my mouth to force anybody to take oath, God should punish me”.

He said that Ombatse was an association of Lakyo boys into which nobody was forced to belong.

He said he was ready to honour any police invitation but insisted that nobody had invited him.

According to him, it is even more saddening that he is being linked to the incident, especially when he knew nothing about what happened to the policemen.

But Al-Makura on Wednesday dismissed Agu’s claim that he was never invited for any meeting.

The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Iliya Aliu, in a telephone interview, said it was on record that the head of the cult group did not honour several invitations extended to him.

He said, “It is not true that he was never invited. The Emir of Lafia who is the Chairman of the Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs invited him, he refused to honour it.

“Are Eggon, who is the chief of his area invited him, he refused; the Police, the SSS all invited him before this incident but he refused to honour any of them.

“His followers attacked and killed people in Asakiyo Alago; they went to Arga Migili, Kwadere and did the same.

“No responsible government will sit by and watch such things happen without taking action.

“It was after he refused to answer all of these invitations that the state security council met and decided that he should be arrested.

“Even their name, Ombatse, means it is our turn. Their turn for what?

“In any case, no matter the grievance, no individual or group has the right to kill innocent security officials.

“He and all those responsible must face the consequence of their action.”

The President of the Egon Cultural Development Association, Mr. Chris Mamman, said the only way to get to the root of what happened at Alakyo was for the Federal Government to set up a judicial commission of inquiry.

Ewuga said he decided to tour the affected area as a matter of national responsibility, saying he needed to see things for himself since he is also an Eggon man even though it was not within his senatorial district.

http://www.punchng.com/news/gov-ordered-police-to-bring-my-head-ombatse-chief-priest/

Please Papa Ombatse don't answer any invitation , if u go u will not come back and the middlebelt will be ru over by Fulani Marauder ... Remember King Jaja of Opobo .

idupaul: Please Papa Ombatse don't answer any invitation , if u go u will not come back and the middlebelt will be ru over by Fulani Marauder ... Remember King Jaja of Opobo .

because ur sibling wasnt among d policemen killed sé?

This guy juju strong sha...Is Pegan 9ja a member of Ombatse?

U abi

stories bout these guys just piss me off

Awon baba oshi...........elo Ku sigbo

Only God knows the truth

You no suppose worry na....odeshi déy

¶f he's empty head wasn't needed, why would it have been requested He head better offer it easily now cos even an elephant collapses a day.

God, please have mercy on us and take total control of all these situations. Put an end to all form of blood-letting in our land. Lord, in anger, remember mercy please. Give us peace in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria in Jesus' name (amen).

I still don't understand, this man's group ambushed n killed 'tonnes' of police officers, instead of him being declared wanted for those murders, he is there getting homage from a SENATOR of d Federal Republic of Nigeria, who i know will still go there with his own police entourage? We haven't really heard d truth about dis matter

Let me read first

Space

Hahaha,
Okay, this is my 1st comment since this Nairaland 21 rules crap. personally i think some of the rules doesn't make sense. We are not kids abeg..
In a forum, bashing at each other is very allowed. Though i am not in support of the constant religious n tribal wars. DONT take away those funny GIF's biko, they make us laugh, some are off points tho.


@TOPIC,
I tot the babalawo was in prison or something, so you mean he is still free? hahaha, the polic must be scared of the dude.

Why isnt this guy in custody yet? Are we in a banana rep where anarchy is the order of the day and the police seems helpless.
This is anoda Boko haram in the making if not properly handled. If the press can reach this people why is it so dificult for the security guys?

The Governor is yet to tell Nigerians what was the man offence that he sent a battalion of police after him.

@ ewet U are free to type anything u like.Easy say than do,i hope u knw d number of security men killed by invisible forces?

Interesting labran maku is contesting in this state in 2015, do I smell pdp mess here

ewet: Why isnt this guy in custody yet? Are we in a banana rep where anarchy is the order of the day and the police seems helpless.
This is anoda Boko haram in the making if not properly handled. If the press can reach this people why is it so dificult for the security guys?

Oh u didnt know?? We are most definately in banana republic - where did u think u were? A civilized world?

Maxymilliano: The Governor is yet to tell Nigerians what was the man offence that he sent a battalion of police after him.

Thank you for the observation jare.

Maxymilliano: The Governor is yet to tell Nigerians what was the man offence that he sent a battalion of police after him.

simple. and why he has not been arrested upto now. i think there's more to this story.

brb

dont worry papa. u will soon be offered amnesty.

Hmm, 1 can nt b certain in dis regrds yet since der's contentn in both statemnts. Only God n d pple involved knws d truth. 4 d dead R.i.p.

smothly: Only God knows the truth

ABI OOOOOO

ewet: Why isnt this guy in custody yet? Are we in a banana rep where anarchy is the order of the day and the police seems helpless.
This is anoda Boko haram in the making if not properly handled. If the press can reach this people why is it so dificult for the security guys?

Custody? So if you were a security personnel and they call you and others to go and arrest this man once again u will go baa? Yeye dey smell.

The role of the Governor in this crisis must be fully investigated. Calls for the fragile old man's arrest is not enough.

And politicians should leave the army out of this matter. If 100 policemen (may God bless their soul)could not arrest him, may be they should try 200.

Nawao