Group seeks extradition of alleged drug barons for trial over Ozubulu killings

The Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) yesterday carpeted the government at the state and federal levels for their failure to demand the extradition of the alleged drug barons linked to Sunday’s massacre at St Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu.

The group, is therefore, asking the government to extradite the alleged drugs dealers to face trial for terrorism in the country, saying failure to do so was tantamount to failure of leadership.

The group also demanded that Governor Willie Obiano and the Anambra Police should make public their relationship with the alleged drug barons in line with the accusations being levied against them.

Scores of worshippers were killed during an early morning Mass when gunmen, who were dressed in army uniforms, invaded the Church shooting sporadically. During the attack, 22 people, who sustained varying degrees of injuries are still being treated, while one person has been declared missing.

Since the attack, opinions have varied as to the cause of the killings, with many linking it to a long drawn battle of drug barons of Ozubulu extraction, who reside in South Africa.

It was alleged that part of the cartel in the business gone sour had pursued their target to the Church and failing to get him, rained bullets on the innocent worshippers.

In a statement signed by its President, Olu Omotayo, the lamented that it was unfortunate that since the incident, nothing substantial had been done by either the Anambra or Federal Government to bring the perpetrators to book.

The group said the attitude of the Police and state government clearly showed that they had been compromised coupled with allegations that the barons were “paying their bills through drug money.

“The question is: Has Nigeria become a failed state, as people in government become so confused and continue to show lack of leadership qualities and gross inexperience in the face of great challenges? Nigeria hitherto was a great nation before it was plunged into this state of hopelessness by politicians.

“The former Military Administrator of Rivers State from January 1984- August 1986, Fidelis Oyakhilome, who was Chairman of NDLEA from 1988-1991, was dismissed after being accused of having a relationship with Jenifer Madike, a Lagos businesswoman and socialite who had been arrested for drug related offences.

She had been arrested on a charge of collecting $80,000 from three men who claimed to have given the money to Oyakhilome to secure the release of two suspected drug dealers.

The United States later unsuccessfully applied for extradition of one of the dealers on charges of heroin smuggling.