Posted by MALACHY UZENDU, Abuja on
FEDERAL Government yesterday inaugurated a six-member panel of inquiry to probe the killing of 27 people by a vigilance group on August 5 in Aba, Abia State.
FEDERAL Government yesterday inaugurated a six-member panel of inquiry to probe the killing of 27 people by a vigilance group on August 5 in Aba, Abia State.
The panel headed by Justice Gladys Otohi was mandated to establish those behind the killings and their motives.
The probe is coming in the wake of a letter from Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu accusing President Olusegun Obasanjo of corruption.
Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Sunday Ehindero had recently paraded some persons including one Mr. Kingsley Chinenye and another person said to be a special adviser on security matters to Governor Orji Uzor, Kalu of Abia State. They were alleged to be masterminds of the killings.
Witnesses who testified at the Force Headquarters on the occasion, pointedly accused Mr. Chinenye of having ordered that some late night worshippers be locked up in a warehouse at Aba where they later died.
The two witnesses, claimed they survived the ordeal through divine intervention.
Yesterday however, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), while inaugurating the panel said "government was committed to protecting life and property of citizenry of the country."
He also inaugurated another panel headed by Justice Abayomi Olowoefeyeku (rtd), mandated to inquire into a clash between some military personnel and civilians in Lagos, during which some people were killed.