BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Benin City, Edo, Nigeria – Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Dankwara has ordered a serious manhunt for the gunmen who killed a catholic priest in Benin City, last Wednesday.
The CP’s marching order came after operatives of the command stormed the crime scene following the evacuation of the remains of the priest identified as Reverend Father Charles Onomhoale Ighechi of the Benin Archdiocese.
The Public Relations Officer, Edo State Police Command SP Chidi Nwabuzor disclosed this to Alltimepost.com crime correspondent who visited his office in Benin City, today.
He stated further that the police chief in the state while urging the command’s tactical teams to smoke out the perpetrators of the gruesome murder, appealed to members of the public to furnish the detectives with information that would unmask the criminal elements.
“Following a distress call received by the Command through its Divisional Headquarters at Okhuaire on 8th of June, 2023 at about 0710hrs, that an unidentified adult male corpse suspected to have been murdered was abandoned in Ikhueniro Community along the Benin-Agbor road, Benin-City Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased was a Revered Father and the Vice Principal of St. Michael College, Ikhueniro Community in Ikpoba – Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
“CP Mohammed A. Dankwara, FBDFM, FCIMN, the Commissioner Of Police Edo State while at the crime scene commiserate with the Catholic community in Edo state and Nigeria as he urged them, family members and general public to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses and gave a marching order to the Command Tactical teams to go after the perpetrators of this dastardly act and arrest them.
“He also vowed to prosecute the offenders in court and warn criminal elements to vacate the state or be ready to face severe punishments under the law”, SP Chidi stated.
A Reverend father within the Benin Archdiocese who craved anonymity, because he was not authorized to speak, confirmed the killing of the Priest to the PUNCH on Thursday when contacted after initial attempt to reach the State Police Spokesperson, Chidi Nwabuzor failed.
He said, “It is true, he was killed. Nobody was with him when he was killed by gunmen. His corpse bore bullet holes when he was found.
But the Catholic Archbishop of Benin City, Augustine Akubeze, said that the issue had been reported to the police and expressed hope that justice would be served on the perpetrators of the illegal act.
Akubeze, in a condolence statement issued on Thursday, said the priest, who was ordained in August 2022, was shot on his way back to his place of assignment and his remains were found by Boundary Street in Ikpoba Hill, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Edo State
“With deep sadness and sorrow in our hearts, we wish to inform you of the death of one of our priests in the Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Charles Onomhoale Igechi, who was ordained on the 13 of August 2022 and who until his death was the Vice Principal of St. Michael College, Ikhueniro.
“With great shock, we received the news this morning that he was shot on his way back to his place of assignment, on the 7th of June, 2023 and his remains were found by Boundary Street in Ikpoba Hill, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Edo State.
“We, therefore, wish to solicit your prayers for the happy repose of his soul. I kindly wish to use this medium to inform all priests that there shall be a Mass for the peaceful repose of Rev. Fr. Charlies Onomhoale Igechi, on June 9, 2023, at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre’s Chapel at 10:00 am.
“I entrust you all to the maternal intercession of our Lady of Sorrow. May God continue to guide and protect all the faithful in the Archdiocese of Benin City and may the soul of Rev. Fr. Charles Igechi find peace and tranquillity in the loving embrace of our risen Saviour. Amen,” the statement read.
