An ex-militant named ‘General Iron’ has been reported dead after engaging in a fierce gunfight with a vigilante group at Oku-Bushuyu, in Boki Local Government Area, LGA of Cross Rivers State.
General Iron, whose real name is Mr Thomas Obi Tawo, didn’t necessarily die from gunshot wounds, as alleged, but was cut to bits in his country home in the state.
It would be recalled that the notorious Tawo was once granted amnesty after years of surmounting terror on the people of his community and was also made the special adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Forest Security.
Crimes of Ex-Militant Before Death
The former militant was initially accused of applying gruesome measures to deal with rivals, as a source who pleaded anonymous revealed that the infamous individual could go to the extent of setting persons suspected to be witches ablaze.
General Iron was also accused of masterminding the numerous attacks on people in that region, particularly the attack on a People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chieftain, Rt. Hon. Mark Obi, for allegedly refusing to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Obi, a former Special Adviser to Ayade on administration, escaped death by whiskers last month after receiving several machete cuts from the dreaded ‘general’ Iron.
Although there was no official confirmation at the time of filing this report, a reliable source in the community said, “I can confirm to you that ‘general Iron’ has been killed. He died today, Friday, during a gun
battle in the bush with vigilante groups in the community.”
Meanwhile, it was also gathered that the state police had not confirmed the death of the self-acclaimed notorious general Iron.