BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Benin City, the Edo State capital in South-South Nigeria has for two weeks running been under siege by armed hoodlums whose criminal onslaughts have left blood, tears, sorrows, pains and fear in the land.
Bullet-riddled corpses now lie in pools of blood in some streets and major roads in the state capital.
Since Monday, October 19, 2020 when hoodlums reportedly hijacked the #EndSARS protest and unleashed carnage on police and correctional facilities in the process, the City has remained under the siege of miscreants.
Caches of arms, ammunition and police uniforms were carted away by the hoodlums who also attacked the two correctional facilities in the City.
No fewer than 1,900 inmates were reportedly set free during the unfortunate incident.
The police personnel who are probably overwhelmed by the unexpected aggression have remained inactive and withdrawn.
The responsibility of protection of lives and property has since been tactically left for individuals and other security operatives like the army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC).
All entreaties by the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the Inspector General of police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar Adamu to make the police return to duty posts are yet to yield expected results.
Though the Commissioner of police in the state, Johnson Babatunde Kokumo had severally stated that the police will not allow hoodlums to occupy the public space, the personnel body language, paints a contrary picture.
Hoodlums in the state are cashing in on the situation to perpetuate various heinous crimes.
Investigation revealed that the absence of police personnel in the public space may have led to the upsurge in criminal activities across the City.
The rampaging criminals in their number, at different times and locations have robbed, maimed or opened fire on their targets, brazenly.
Shops and POS operators’ offices as well as banks costumers who make use of the Automated Teller Machines (ATM) have not been spared by the miscreants.
Jungle justice had reportedly been meted to suspected criminals apprehended by locals who were allegedly not received when they took suspects to police stations in their domains.
Two armed robbery suspects set ablaze in Upper Sokponba road in Benin City recently is a reference.
Rival cult groups are now using the opportunity to unleash deaths on their perceived enemies.
The robberies, maiming and killings have been taken beyond the usual, leaving victims, most of whom are males in their prime, to die like flies on the streets of Benin City.
On Friday, November 13, 2020 about 2:22pm our reporter was called to Igbinaduwa junction area of Upper Siluko road, Benin City. On arrival at the scene, a young man lied helpless on the walkway bleeding profusely from his bullet riddled neck.
He gasped fruitlessly for available oxygen which visibly escaped from his badly damaged arteries, and shortly afterwards, he gave up ghost.
His hitherto red blood suddenly became purple-colored, with eyes widely opened, as residents and passersby thronged the scene, wailing in bewilderment.
He was said to have been gunned down by a member of a gang who left the spot gallantly and unchallenged after the shooting.
Other victims reportedly killed in similar dastardly manner
The fatality rate is over 29 as at Saturday, November 14, 2020, and is likely to increase owing to a very strong sense of impunity among the hoodlums.
The gunmen suspected to be cultists also dared the Nigeria Police Force when they waylaid and rained bullets on an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), in Benin City in the early morning of Friday, November 13, 2020.
The officer, ACP Agabi Aboki Godiri who is the Area Commander in charge of Benin metro
was immediately rushed to the hospital in Benin where he is currently receiving treatment and expected to recover.
Last weekend rumor of his death from gunshot injuries, as reported by some media outlets, has since been debunked by the State Police Commissioner, Johnson Babatunde Kokumo.
Our reporter’s checks however revealed that the ACP is fast recovering and may be discharged from the hospital, soon.
Further findings revealed that Upper Sokponba and Idogbo areas of the City are the epicenters of the violence as no fewer than eight casualties have been reported in the areas.
Among other areas that have been reportedly hit by the crisis are Ogida, Ikpoba hill, Siluko road, Evbomore, Mission road, Ibiwe, Isihor and Uselu.
Apparently disturbed by the incidents, residents have called on the Edo State government, Police Command and other security agencies in the state to intervene.
They appealed to the police to respect and obey their boss, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu who visited the state a fortnight ago to evaluate the level of damage done to police facilities as he eventually directed police personnel to return to duty post and defend themselves.
The residents also applauded the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki who visited the Police Command, promised to rebuild razed police stations and also boost their morale.
Meanwhile, some police operatives have blamed their boss for not giving them directive to swoop on the criminals terrorizing the state.
Commissioner Johnson Kokumo, had during a chat with journalists assured that police would reclaim the public space.
He said the command would not allow hoodlums to take over the state officers and men of the command were working within existing limitations to restore normalcy to the state.
He also assured that all the criminals would soon be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrents to others.
