Cognate Bakassi Boys Storm Awka, Burn Criminals & Cultists Alive

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

(IMAGES: VIEWERS DISCRETION ADVISED)

In view of the protracted insecurity in Awka, the Anambra State capital, a new security outfit that operates in similar ways with the defunct Bakassi Boys have allegedly stormed the city  to boot out criminal elements and cultists terrorising the city, and immediately restore a lasting security in the city.

The arrival and presence of these able-bodied armed men in Awka was not only heard, but was observed and also felt by the residents, as they swung into action immediately after their arrival and consequently harvested some criminals and cultists in different parts of the city. With roads shows, they had earlier patrolled round the city with sound system, public service announcer and some gunshots into the air, to register their presence and warn criminal elements to either repent or steer clear the town and its environs.

According to reports, the cognate Bakassi Boys who arrived the city on Saturday, have allegedly killed about eight criminals and cultists in different parts of the city between Monday and Tuesday.

One of the most terrifying dreading attributes of these ferocious-looking boys is that they kill and put tyre round the neck of any suspected criminal or cultist they catch and immediately set the him ablaze without any second chance. Most times, they also burn the suspects alive without any trial, and roast them like a cow meat or leave them to burn down into ashes.

On Monday, for instance, the 'Isakaba' Boys allegedly caught and burnt about four cultists alive in Agu Oye in Awka South Local Government Area. The group also allegedly sent about three other suspected criminals and cultists to their early grave and roasted them with tyres that same Monday.

On Tuesday, the group equally allegedly burnt a criminal along Dike Street, by Eke Awka, market, thereby making Awka a danger zone for cultists and criminals of any kind.

Although, some sources revealed that those men arrived Awka to do the job which police have failed to do; when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the Anambra, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu said he had no idea of the arrival of any such security outfit in the state.

“I don’t have any such details before me. Meanwhile, I will make enquires please and get back to you," he said.

Some unconfirmed reports have it that these cognate Bakassi Boys were engaged by the town union and indigenous youths of the Awka, and were engaged "mainly for alleged cult groups and activities which have taken over Awka town in recent time without any response from the Police."

According to reports, the road show earlier conducted by the Boys was accompanied with public service announcement for people to put their movements in check to enable the security outfit do their job effectively, as Awka has become of a shadow of itself lately, as people especially the youths are killed almost everyday for months now as a result of secret cult clashes, armed robbery and thuggery have been on a high, such that residents can no longer freely go about their businesses in the city without the fear of losing their lives.

It would be recalled that the arrival and the activities defunct Bakassi Boys were principally instrumental to restoring security in Anambra State in the early 2000. Although they are usually accused of extra-judicial and blamed for jungle justice.