BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
No fewer than 120 suspects would be arraigned in court following their arrests during and after the violence that greeted the #EndSARS protests in Benin City on Monday October 19, 2020, Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Johnson Babatunde Kokumo has disclosed.
CP Johnson Kokumo stated that the suspects were allegedly involved in the burning of police stations, jailbreaks, looting of public and private property as well as armed robbery incidences recorded during and after the civil disturbances.
He disclosed this recently when he paraded some of the suspects to journalists at the state police command headquarters in Benin City.
“The command wishes to brief members of the public through the media on the “EndSARS” protest, which was consequently hijacked by hoodlums and mobs who went berserk wreaking havoc majorly in Benin metropolis.
“As you are all aware, the hoodlums burnt down police stations, carted away arms and ammunition, raped women in some areas, killed policemen on their gory path to destruction, freed convicted criminals and felons, looted businesses and extorted innocent Nigerians.
“The Command is currently pained by the havoc caused by the mobs and hoodlums, masquerading as protesters who were united by a common criminality.
“However, as the looting and destruction were taking place, the Police and other security agencies mustard their acts together and were able to arrest some of the arsonists, looters and escapees,” CP Johnson Kokumo stated.
The police boss listed the names of the suspects and the scenes of crime they were allegedly nabbed as shown below:
Nigeria Customs Service Warehouse WAEC Road, Off Benin-Auchi Road, Aduwawa Benin City
1. Blessing Ossai ‘f’
2. Mary-Jane Okii ‘f’
3. Muhammed Rabiu ‘m’
4. Gabriel Ojo ‘m’
5. Salisu Ajaaj ‘m’
6. Fidelix Iyamu ‘m’
7. Sunny Ariofolo ‘m’
8. Adamu Abdullahi ‘m’
9. Sale Lawal ‘m’
10. Anthony Odinaka ‘m’
11. Alh. Ahmed Sale ‘m’
12. Christian Igbinosa ‘m’
13. Aigbe John ‘m’
14. Tonny Momodu ‘m’
15. Iyawe Lucas ‘m’
16. Igie Orobor ‘m’
17. Jerrison Jonathan ‘m’
18. Peter Anaka ‘m’
19. Johnson Momoh ‘m’
20. Francis Akpoyomon ‘m’
21. Abdul Ishaku ‘m’
22. Ogbewe Enoma ‘m’
23. Ali Sheriff ‘m’
24. Oshogu Zekeri ‘m’
25. Godwin Joseph ‘m’
26. Idemudia Joshua ‘m’
27. Balogun Ibrahim ‘m’
28. Rosemary Asemota ‘f’
BLESSED DORIS-DEY WAREHOUSE, Benin-Agbor Road, Benin City
1. Frank Solomon ‘m’
2. Paul Osunde ‘m’
3. David Idemudia ‘m’
4. Godspower Christopher ‘m’
5. Sunday Ige ‘m’
6. Joseph Goddey ‘m’
7. Emeka Ekwe ‘m’
8. Joy Mbah ‘f’
9. Sandra Smart ‘f’
10. Joy Osarumwense ‘f’
11. Candon Agwa ‘f’
12. Faith Okidi ‘f’
13. Glory Christian ‘f’
14. David Ojo ‘m’
15. Peter Anabike ‘m’
16. Johnson Ugboja ‘m’
CENTRAL MEDICAL STORES, OKHORO, Benin City.
1. Moma John ‘m’
2. Osarugue Omorogbe ‘m’
3. Obaretin Happy ‘m’
4. Daniel Effiong ‘m’
5. Unans Destiny ‘m’
6. Korosi Favour ‘m’
7. Victor Raymond ‘m’
8. James Obosa ‘m’
9. Kehinde Idris ‘m’
10. Ik Steven Nwobodo ‘m’
11. James Obaretin ‘m’
12. Omweatu Goddey ‘m’
13. John Ezugagha ‘m’
14. Sunday Odia ‘m’
15. Akinyemi Okpe ‘m’
16. Eze Emmanuel ‘m’
17. Stanley Victor ‘m’
18. Bashiru Saheed ‘m’
19. Joseph Lamidu ‘m’
20. Lucky Ehidu ‘m’
21. Abu Alasa ‘m’
22. Sunday Effiong ‘m’
23. Sunday Bright ‘m’
24. Christopher Ariguta ‘m’
25. Faith Dunu ‘m’
26. Ruth Jatto ‘f’
27. Blessing Ogu ‘f’
28. Happy Augustine ‘f’
29. Faith Osemwenkhae ‘f’
30. Ogbebor Vivian ‘f’
31. Joy John ‘f’
32. Esther Anofelegun ‘f’
33. Alibi Mariam ‘f’
34. Abiodun Joy ‘f’
35. Uwagboe Augustine ‘f’
36. Ossai Victor ‘f’
37. Okolie Emmanuel ‘m’
38. Bright Ejiogu ‘m’
39. Ezekiel Madu ‘m’
40. Ogieva Osarenkhoe ‘m’
41. Chibudu Allen ‘m’
42. Friday Okeda ‘m’
43. Ojo Nelson ‘m’
44. Sunday Fadeyi ‘m’
45. Kehinde Odeh ‘m’
OLAM NIGERIA PLC Private Warehouse, Located at Abico Junction, Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City.
1. Adesola Sunday ‘m’
2. Lucky Juliet ‘f’
3. Osazee Emmanuel ‘m’
4. Aigbogun Israel ‘m’
5. Desmond Osemwegie ‘m’
6. Blessed Ighodaro ‘m’
7. Oviase Morgan ‘m’
8. Osadolor Godwin ‘m’
9. Ogbewi Princess ‘f’
10. Helen Edokpayi ‘f’
11. Amawoh Felix ‘m’
12. Nwokpu Junior ‘m’
13. Rebecca Godstime ‘m’.
RE-ARRESTED ESCAPEES from Benin/Oko Correctional Centres
i. Emmanuel Udoh ‘m’
ii. Friday Etim ‘m’
iii. Victor Akpotor ‘m’
iv. Lucky Precious ‘m’
v. Osarumen Enoragbon
vi. Patrick Eguavoen ‘m’
vii. Abraham Matthew ‘m’
viii. Endurance Ifobuow ‘m’
ix. Mohammed Adamu ‘m’
x. Henry Atadi ‘m’
The police commissioner also revealed that four youths, namely Charles Okoeguale ‘m’, Ojo Osamiemwenfan Igbinoba ‘m’, Gift Osayiwu ‘m’ and Osasumwen Imanawe ‘m’, were arrested with police rifles, uniforms and other accoutrements carted away by hoodlums who invaded police stations during the #EndSARS protests.
“Also, on 27/10/2020, at Oliha Market Junction, Benin City, two armed robbers named Michael Peter ‘m’ and OZ Esi ‘m’ were arrested by officers of the Nigerian Army, attached to 4 Brigade Headquarters, Benin City for allegedly attempting to snatch a Honda Civic Car with Reg. No. AA-261-AY from one Mr. John Destiny of No. 40 Agbonlahor Street, Aduwawa Benin City,” CP Johnson Kokumo stated.
He explained further that on October 26, 2020 some unscrupulous elements in Jattu near Auchi in Edo State were hobnobbing to break into the Town Hall as they were arrested by vigilante and policemen of Jattu police devision.
The suspects are:
1. Kingsley Adoko ‘m’
2. Esther Julius ‘f’
3. Adams Shaka ‘m’
4. Audu Mustafa ‘m’
5. Divine Mackson ‘m’
6. Michael Aigbedion ‘m’
7. Franca Samuel ‘f’
8. Peter John (alias Atorodo) ‘m’.
CP Johnson Kokumo, while assuring that the police command would not leave any stone unturned to ensure arrest and prosecution of fleeing suspects in the carnage, said those already in police custody would be charged soonest.
He however gave summary of arms and exhibits recovered to include five AK 47 rifles, two locally made exhibit guns, one locally made gun, one Lexus 330 SUV with Reg. No. KWL-205-AZ, one Toyota Camry Saloon car with Reg. No. LSD-231-GD.
Others are two bags of 50kg and one 25kg of rice as well as twenty four creates of assorted drinks.
Previous reports indicated that some other suspects also arrested in connection with the unrest were being tried at a mobile court sitting at the police command headquarters in Benin City.
Checks by our reporter revealed that Ugbekun divisional police headquarters, Upper Sokponba road, Idogbo police outpost, Idogbo, Oba market police divisional headquarters, near Ring Road, Ogida police divisional headquarters, Upper Siluko Road and Textile Mill Road police divisional headquarters, Benin City were among police facilities that came under severe attacks during the crisis.
