BY UTHMAN BABA-NASEER,,MINNA
The people of Yanbabu community in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State have petitioned the governor of Niger State Mohammed Umar Bago,over a violent attack allegedly carried out by residents of Baka Village.
The petitioner called on the governor to as a matter of urgency Wade into the matter to bring the culprits to face the full wrath of justice in the interest of peace in the community.
According to a petition submitted through their lawyer, AbdulKadir Mohammed, the incident began on June 8, 2025, when some men from Baka Village attacked one Abdulrahman Dauda of Yanbabu Village on his rice farm, leaving him with a serious head injury.
The petition states that after Dauda escaped back to his village for treatment, about 23 armed men from Baka Village later invaded Yanbabu. During the invasion, Alhaji Tauheed Attahiru was killed while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.
The matter was reported to the police, but the community alleged that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Lapai initially tried to shield the suspects. Following a complaint to the Commissioner of Police, four suspects were arrested and charged before Chief Magistrate Court 2, Minna, for criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
However, the community expressed dissatisfaction with the legal advice issued by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), describing it as biased and inconclusive despite the findings of the police investigation.
The petitioners alleged that some powerful individuals may be influencing the process to prevent justice and warned that such actions could worsen the crisis.
They called on the Niger State Government to ensure full prosecution of the suspects and the arrest of others still at large. According to them, justice must be served to restore peace and prevent further violence.
In a swift reaction to the allegations as contained in the petition, the Director of Public Prosection in the Ministry of Justice, Mallam Nuraini Baba Usman, however explained that ordinarily, he would have comment on the Petition, " but as you know, we don't have Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice right now.
" And also, I would have comment on the allegations raised by my learned Colleague in the petition but the Solicitor General and the Parmanent Secretary in the Ministry is not Presently in the office.
" She has been away on a forieng trip. She will be back in the next two weeks time. So you can come back for whatever inquiry you need to hear as regards to this matter.
" Like I told you, I cannot make any comments on this Petition for now unless my Parmanent Secretary is back to the country. If she permit me to speak to you on the petition I will gladly comment. But as it is now, I cannot make any comments on the petition for now" the DPP told Journalists.
