Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Tension has gripped Obeiba Ihima community , in the Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State , following the abduction and murder of a 62- year -old hunchback , Ahmad Suberu, by suspected ritual killers.
Sources in the community told
PUNCH Metro that persons with humps had been disappearing in Obeiba Ihima and Ihima Ba in recent times .
Before Suberu, another pregnant woman with a hump was said to have been abducted about two weeks earlier and murdered by suspected ritual killers.
Suberu, an indigene of Ihima Ba , was reportedly kidnapped on Monday , November 23, 2020, at Obeiba Ihima , while on his way to a mosque for prayers .
His dismembered corpse was said to have been found on December 8 in a bush at Ega community, in the Adavi LGA , with his heart, kidney and other sensitive organs missing .
The Executive Director of Disability Rights Action Group , Raphael Chikwado , and deceased ’ s daughter , Zuleihat Suberu, confirmed the incident in separate interviews with
PUNCH Metro .
“ His hump was taken away, as confirmed from his dead body , which made us to come to the conclusion that it was taken for some odious reasons. From the way we met the dead body , it revealed that he was dumped at Ega some days after being killed, ” the 23-year – old only child of the victim said .
Chikwado said , “ He was abducted by gunmen in a black SUV while waiting to cross the road leading to Oride Mosque , beside St . Paul’ s Church , Obeiba Ihima . An eyewitness reported that the vehicle drove from Okene axis, picked him up and drove off through Ega Road.
“ Unfortunately , the coordinator, Kogi State chapter of DRAG, Ahmed Onimisi , contacted the DRAG office headquarters in Lagos around 5pm on December 9 when he broke the news to us that Suberu was found dead in the early hours of Tuesday, December 8, at Ega in Adavi LGA of the state.
“ Before his death , the late Suberu was an ardent member of DRAG . DRAG is going to explore every legal avenue within the organisation to pursue justice for the deceased ’ s family and for the entire community of persons with disabilities in Nigeria . ”
He said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the crime , adding that they were being detained at the police command headquarters in Lokoja.
The Officer – in- Charge of the case at the Kogi State Police Command, Gabriel Obafemi , told PUNCH Metro that investigation was on to track the killers .
He said , “ We are only trying to see if we can know the perpetrators. I heard that his corpse has been recovered and I sent my boys to go there and check because the information came to me yesterday ( Saturday) . ”
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