The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested suspected masterminds of the 2011 post-election crisis which resulted in the deaths of six members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and police officers.

Parading the suspects at the police headquarters on Thursday, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Auwal Muhammad, stated that his men could not arrest any of the suspects since the incident occurred due to mob action that broke out in the area.

The post-election violence broke out shortly after the announcement of the victory of the then President Goodluck Jonathan in Giade Local Government Area of Bauchi State where a divisional police headquarters was set ablaze, resulting in the killing of six corps members who took cover under the police.

While parading the suspects on Thursday, Auwal said: “On 18th April 2011 between the hours of 12:30 pm and 1 pm, a group of youth, led by one Kabiru Musa, known as Dawa, stormed Giade Divisional Police Headquarters, following the announcement of the 2011 presidential election result. Armed with dangerous weapons which included a knife popularly called Barandami, cutlasses, sticks, petrol, they attacked PC Rifkatu Bappa who was on counter duty at the charge room.

“As a result, she sustained various degrees of injuries and was immediately evacuated to FMC Azare and was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

“Similarly, the said Dawa who was the ringleader and his gang members used petrol to set ablaze a motor vehicle, one Toyota Starlet belonging to Mr. Peter Okoye, which was kept for safekeeping during the peak of the attack.

“In furtherance of this dastardly act, the said Dawa attacked, Bridget Peter Okoye, wife of Mr. Peter Okoye, cut-off her fingers, set fire on the said motor vehicle, and burned down the station which led to the gruesome murder of six corps members who were at the station for safety.”

He mentioned the deceased corps members as Nkwazema Anslem (Imo State) and Adewumi Seun Paul (Ekiti State).

Others are Okpokiri Obinna (Abia State), Teidi Olawale Tosin (Kogi State), Adewei Elliot (Bayelsa State) and Ukeoma Ikechukwu Chibuzor (Imo State).

According to the Commissioner of Police, the deceased NYSC members tried to take to their heels but Dawa and his gang pursued them to their various locations of refuge and gruesomely murdered them one after the other.

The syndicate, according to the police, also attacked and broke into shops of traders and carted away their wares.

“After a manhunt for a decade, the suspect has been arrested and investigation is ongoing, at the conclusion of which he will be arraigned in court based on the findings of the investigation, ” he stated.