Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, has ruled out amnesty for members of the outlawed Ombatse militia of the Eggon ethnic group which killed about 100 security operatives in May this year, saying the criminals and their sponsors would not escape justice.

Speaking with journalists yesterday in Abuja, the governor said that granting amnesty to the group would amount to pre-empting the work of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry set up by his administration to ascertain the remote causes of the killing of security personnel in Alakyo, Lafia Local Government Area of the state.

Reacting to what he described as a misrepresentation of his words during his lecture at the Institute for Security Studies in Bwari, Abuja, Al-Makura stated:

“As a matter of fact, I feel very worried by this misrepresentation because nothing can be farther from my views which I said and what was credited to me. In fact, myself and my administration are bent on bringing to book criminals and perpetrators of the dastardly act in Alakyo which resulted in the killing of security operatives during the operation.

“It is very unfair on me and my government for anybody to insinuate the fact that my government is rooting the idea of amnesty. That is farthest from the truth; we will not have anything to do with amnesty for now because the Judicial Commission of Enquiry is still sitting. We are waiting for the commission to conclude its exercise so that we will bring to book the people involved. At no time in the course of my presentation did I ever mention anything to do with the issue of amnesty.

“I insist that these criminals must be fished out and they must not be left unpunished. We are waiting for the commission of enquiry to finalise its sittings. I will like to assure all and sundry that this government is focused and consistent on our search for peace and justice; justice must be done for people who have been offended.”

•Photo shows Governor Al-Makura.

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