BY OKHIDE EM’YA DAVID
Edo state Police Command, on Wednesday paraded 126 criminal suspects, amongst them 10 armed Robbery suspects, and escaped prison inmates in connection with jail break and looting that greeted the EndSARS protests in Edo State.
Also paraded was a fleeing prisoner who, on escape from jail returned home and attempted to murder the prosecution witness that led to his conviction, but was re- arrested by Security Personnel.
Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Babatunde Johnson Kokumon who paraded the suspects before newsmen at the premises of the state police command, assured law abiding Citizens of adequate protection of their lives and properties.
He sounded a note of warning to hoodlums desist from their criminal activities as the police have long reclaimed their space in the public arena in strict compliance with the directive of the Inspector General of Police ,IGP, Adamu Mohammad to rid the streets off miscreants.
CP Kokumon recalled that Hoodlums and mobs had hijacked the hitherto peaceful EndSARS Protest ” who went berserk wreaking havoc majorly in Benin metropolis…burning down police stations, carting 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 Edo Police Boss said his “Command is currently pained by the havoc caused by the mobs and hoodlums, masquerading as protesters who were united by a common criminality” adding that ” “the stolen arms regrettably will be unleashed on the members of the public”.
He noted that as the “looting and destruction was taking place, the Police and other security agencies mustard their acts together and were able to arrest some of the arsonists, looters and escapees”
Kokumon said 28 Suspects were arrested at the Nigerian Customs Service Warehouse, off Benin-Auchi Road, Aduwawa Benin City, while 45 were caught red-handed at Central Medical Stores, (Warehouse ) Okhoro, Benin City and 13 Suspects at Olam Nigeria PLC Private Warehouse, Located at Abico Junction, Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City.
He said 10 suspected fleeing prisoners from Benin/Oko Correctional Centres were also arrested and are being detained .
The Police Commissioner disclosed that 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 Kokumon said some of the suspects arrested are “four hoodlums; Charles Okoeguale ‘m’, Ojo Osamiemwenfan Igbinoba ‘m’, Gift Osayiwu ‘m’ and Osasumwen Imanawe ‘m’, who were seen with Police rifles, uniforms and other accoutrements carted away by hoodlums who invaded the several police stations during ENDSARS protest” adding that on the 26/10/2020, while the situation was subsiding, some unscrupulous elements in Jattu,
Edo State were hobnobbing on how to break into the Town Hall”.
He said the Suspects were however arrested by some vigilantes and policemen of Jattu Police Division before any damage could be done and gave their names as “Kingsley Adoko, Esther Julius,.Adams Shaka , Audu Mustafa, and Divine Mackson”Others are “Michael Aigbedion , Franca Samuel, and Peter John, alias Atorodo”.
The Police Commissioner listed exhibits recovered from the Suspects to include”; Five AK 47 rifles, two locally made exhibit guns , one locally made gun and One Lexus 330 SUV with Reg. No. KWL-205-AZ.”
Also recovered were one “@Toyota Camry Saloon car with Reg. No. LSD-231-GD, Two bags of 50kg and one 25kg of rice and Twenty four creates of assorted drinks”.
Meanwhile Some of the Suspects especially those arrested in connection with theft of Covid Palliatives denied the Charges against them saying they were innocent and wrongly apprehended.
One of the Suspects, a wholesale Cattle Trader, Alhaji Ahmed Saleh said he was on his way to rescue his trailer load of cattle which was apprehended by some protesting youths at Uselu axis of Benin City, where they, as at the time of his arrest by Soldiers, had slaughtered 3 Cows .
Alhaji Saleh told newsmen that since 1996 he has lived in Benin City he has never visited any Police Station because he has no criminal record, remarking that he does not know where Custom Office is located, talk less of going there to steal.He added that he always distribute rice during festivals and that he can not go and steal what he can afford and give to others.
A 76-year-old retired soldier, Corporal, Fidelis Iyamu said he was returning from where he went to ” take local herbs -medication for sleeping disorder at Iwogban Quarters, Ikpoba Hill, when he was accosted by soldiers” adding that all efforts to explain to them that he was not a “looter” fell on deaf ears.
Retired Corporal Fidelis Iyamu who brandished an identity card bearing the Logo of the Nigeria Army retiree before newsmen said the most painful part of his ordeal was that the soldiers did not ” recognize Esprit De’ Corps as a normal culture amongst security agents and have now complicated his already worsening health issues .
On her part, a middle-aged Woman, Rosemary Asemota said she was looking for her daughter who left home to join her mates in the #EndSaRS Protests when she was shoved into a van by some soldiers at Akara junction ,Aduwawa quarters on the Benin – Auchi Express Way.
How ever for Michaels Peters, Henry Atade, Abraham Mathews, Eddy Favour ,Patrick Eguavoen, their excuses were neither here nor there .
The Police promised to immediately charge all the suspects to court.
