The Coalition of Pro- Democracy Groups For A Better Nigeria has called on the federal government to set up special courts to revisit past murder cases in the country so as to address the current spate of insecurity just as it condoled with the Attah of Ighala over death of his sister set ablaze in Kogi State
The sister to the paramount ruler of the Igala kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Mathew Opaluwa , Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa-Sani, 75, her daughter, Hajarat Usman Sani and her five years old granddaughter identified as Onechojo were set ablaze by suspected arsonists in the early hours of Thursday, at her residence, in Oketekwe, Idah.
It will be recalled that 60 years old Mrs Salome Acheju Abuh, PDP Women Leader, Wada/Aro Campaign Council, Ochadamu Ward, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, was also set ablaze in the similar circumstance in November 2019 at the peak of the gubernatorial electioneering campaign setting a bad precedence that now emboldened the latest arson and murder within the same State.
A statement by it’s National Coordinator , Comrade Awa Bamiji reads; “The deaths of the late Mallama Opaluwa-Sani and her five-year-old granddaughter are pathetic, tragic and sacrilegious.
“The death of Mallama Opaluwa-sani, who was bestowed with title Akwuma Attah
Igala, in 2023, was a loss to the entire Igala Kingdom, Kogi State, Northcentral Region and Nigeria at large
“We therefore call on security Agencies to investigate the alleged arson and bring to book the Perpetrators of the heinous crime. This should not be done in isolation without addressing past murder cases in Nigeria including that of the 2019 PDP Women Leader mentioned earlier through the establishment of a Special Court.
“Chief Bola Ige, former Minister of Justice and Attorney – General of Federation was equally assassinated 22 years ago and up till date, it is still “case close courtesy of former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, and we must understand that “what goes around, comes around”. Many have been falling victims since. Who knows the next victim?
“It is with a heavy heart that we condole with our Royal father, HRM, Alaji Mathew Opaluwa and the royal family over the deaths of his sister and her granddaughter, whose lives were taken in the most painful manner.
“We also commiserate with the entire people of Igala Kingdom, Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Ahmed Usman Ododo, and Mr President, at this time because this is another painful loss to every one of us in Nigeria
“We call on security agencies to investigate this latest murder alongside numerous others and bring all their perpetrators to book, once and for all, through a Special Court, set up for the purpose, so as to serve as a deterrent to others. Else, we won’t move forward and we will continue to sympathise day by day until Kingdom comes. Such acts of sacrilege must be discouraged in our land.
“We pray that Almighty Allah grant the souls of the late Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa, and her granddaughter, Onechojo Aljanah Firdaus, and revive her surviving first daughter, who is still in the Hospital fighting for her life. We also pray Almighty Allah grants the family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss,”
