A viral video has surfaced on social media accusing the Local Government Chairman of Ankpa, Kogi State, Hon. Engr. Adamu Muhammed Yahaya, of ordering the killing of innocent residents in a bid to protect illegal coal mining activities on community lands without compensation to the affected landowners.
In the video, a visibly distressed young man narrated how the Ankpa Local Government Chairman allegedly ordered the Vigilante group in Ankpa to abduct one Bashiru, who had previously challenged coal miners for seizing land belonging to his cousin, Achegulu, for mining purposes without any form of compensation.
He further disclosed that several young men have lost their lives at the hands of the Vigilante group, allegedly acting on the orders of Hon. Engr. Adamu Muhammed Yahaya, under the guise of theft accusations.
The young man stated that his own life is now at risk following his decision to speak out on social media, and warned that should he or his elder brother go missing or be killed, the Ankpa Local Government Chairman and members of the Vigilante team should be held fully responsible.
He specifically mentioned that one of their cousins, Achegulu, was executed in cold blood simply for opposing the mining of coal on his land without compensation.
In a related development, a popular Kogi State social media influencer with significant federal reach and over 200,000 followers on Facebook, known as Mr. Cartoon Boy, has threatened legal action against all parties involved, demanding the unconditional release of Bashiru or his formal arraignment before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Mr. Cartoon Boy stated that he had, on good authority, obtained the identities of those allegedly involved in the extrajudicial killings, naming the Ankpa Local Government Chairman, Hon. Engr. Adamu Muhammed Yahaya, the Vigilante head, Atakpo, as well as individuals identified as Alhaji Otise Abubakar Yahaya and one Haruna, alias “Don.”
He called on the sons and daughters of Igala land to stand against the extrajudicial killings being perpetrated in connection with coal mining activities in the area.
He further announced that the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and other relevant security agencies would be contacted immediately to investigate the matter and ensure that all those involved are brought to justice, as a deterrent to others.
As of the time of filing this report, Bashiru was still reportedly being held in the Vigilante office in Ankpa under the directive of Local Government Chairman, Hon. Engr. Adamu Muhammed Yahaya.
