Posted by From Onwuka Nzeshi in Abuja on
Sympathisers and relatives of the deceased victims of the Abuja Killings yesterday wept freely as the Justice Olasumbo Goodluck Judicial Commission of Inquiry heard the account of an eye witness, Idirisu Umaru, who said Deputy Commis-sioner of Police Danjuma Ibrahim did not only order the execution of the victims but personally strangled Augustina Arebun, the only female among the deceased victims
Sympathisers and relatives of the deceased victims of the Abuja Killings yesterday wept freely as the Justice Olasumbo Goodluck Judicial Commission of Inquiry heard the account of an eye witness, Idirisu Umaru, who said Deputy Commis-sioner of Police Danjuma Ibrahim did not only order the execution of the victims but personally strangled Augustina Arebun, the only female among the deceased victims.
Umaru, an Assistant Super-intendent of Police and a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) at the Garki Police Division said Danjuma seized the neck of the lady and twisted it fiercely when the Ambush Squad detailed to eliminate the last two victims returned to Garki Police station with the lady and reported that the male victim who ought to have been executed had escaped. He gave a detailed account of his experiences at the police station that night and said that although he did not take part in the killings he witnessed everything that happened at the station in his capacity as second in command to the then Divisional Police Officer, Abdulsallam Othman now at large.
"On the eight of June, 2005 at around 02.00hrs(2am), I was in the office because I was transfered from Abaji to Garki recently and I have no accommodation so I normally sleep in the office... DPO Abdulsallam Othman came into where I was, woke me up and told me that there was a case of suspected armed robbers.
'I went outand I saw DCP Danjuma Ibrahim standing outside. I also saw four corpses on the ground and two persons, a male and female. Later the DPO (Othman) called Police Constable, Dennis Asawa that he should come out and search a 406 Peugeot car parked outside the office. Asawa went to the passengers side at the front seat and started searching. He brought out two locally made pistols and two live catridges.
"Then the DPO said the other two people who were alive should be 'escorted' that is eliminated. Then I asked him (Othman) whether the authorities were aware and he said yes. I saw him and DCP Danjuma phoning and as a junior person to them I think I had no right to question them. Othman then called Ambush Squad headed by Superintendent of Police Nicholas Zacharia.
They (Danjuma and Othman) called Zacharia inside but I don't know what they discussed. They later came out and put the lady and the man in the vehicle. Then they drove away. I did not follow them. I went back to my office.
"Later on the Ambush Squad came back with the lady and Zachariah informed DCP Danjuma who had all along been at the Garki Police station that one of the suspects (the male) had escaped. Othman also told me about the escape of the boy. When Danjuma heard that one of them escaped, he grew annoyed and said all of them in the Ambush Squad should go back and look for him. At that time the lady was still alive but was lying in the vehicle but in that annoyance, DCP Danjuma went to the vehicle where the lady was and held her head and turned it and strangled her in the presence of DPO, Abdulsallam Othman", the witness stated almost in pains.
'Also, the Investigating Police Officer, Dennis Asawa who was detailed that night by Othman to search the vehicle and open a case file in respect of the incident testified before the panel yesterday. He was also the person who was ordered by the then Garki police boss to engage a photographer to snap pictures of the victims as well as to record the deaths in a coroners inquest form. According to Asawa, the way the orders came and the situation at the station did not allow him to carry out his assignment according to the laid down procedures. He however testified that contrary to the testimony given by Danjuma and members of the Ambush Squad, four of the victims were brought to the Garki Police Station dead while only two were alive before the order to execute them came.
Meanwhile, the Commis-sion of Inquiry has adjourned public hearings. Justice Goodluck who broke the news of the recess said the panel may resume public sittings if the need arises, especially if new evidence that could help the panel emerges from any quarters before the mandatory six weeks assigned to the panel to conduct its investigations expires.