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 5 pm 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) . ”
