A notorious militia and gang leader, Thomos Obi Tawo, fondly called “General Iron” in Boki Local Government Area, Cross River State where he previously held sway, was on Thursday killed in a gun battle with local vilgilante in the area.
He was killed along with some of his gang members and his lifeless body was brought out to the village square where it was dismembered in the presence of some victims of his reign of terror.
The late gang leader was formerly a special assistant to Governor Ben Ayade on Forest Security but was relieved of his appointment after he was accused of continually overstepping his bounds and repeatedly terrorising those he believed were opposed to his interests.
Social media handles of individuals and groups in Cross River State were awash with pictures of his dismembered body and various write-ups that chronicled different experiences of people who knew about his activities.
Mr. Attach Ochinke, a former Attorney-General of the state and indigene of Boki Local Government Area, wrote on his Facebook page: “Thomas Obi Tawo, popularly called General Iron, was an illiterate, an unexposed young man with the tendencies of a small time criminal.
“He is dead; hunted down and killed disgracefully like a rat. A lot of people, including me, believe he deserved his end. But I think Gen Iron was deceived unto his death.”
He claimed that “the political system used and dumped him, and dodged from him when the chips were down”.
Ochinke said at the time of General Iron’s death, “the political system he thought he was serving had abandoned him; too ashamed to associate with him.
“Even the government that gave him a high office in recognition of his atrocities sacked him and withdrew the high office.
“He stood alone, naked in his last days. He had no place to hide; none of the political associates accommodated him. He ran into the bush like a rat.
Credit- NATION
