Posted by By Osaro Okhomina & Simon Ebegbulem on
ARMED policemen, numbering two hundred, weekend, invaded the Ujemen Community of Ekpoma town in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, arresting fourteen persons over their alleged involvement in the August reprisal attack and burning of eight houses in Ikhiedheu-Egoro community over the alleged killing of a youth leader by his jealous lover in the area.
BENIN CITY - ARMED policemen, numbering two hundred, weekend, invaded the Ujemen Community of Ekpoma town in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, arresting fourteen persons over their alleged involvement in the August reprisal attack and burning of eight houses in Ikhiedheu-Egoro community over the alleged killing of a youth leader by his jealous lover in the area.
Already the Police Area Command in Irrua headed by ACP John Nwokolo and the Divisional Officer of the area, Mr. Martins Ngere were yesterday ordered to transfer those arrested to the headquarters of the Police Command in the state capital and causing many of the residents to desert their homes in protest against the indiscriminate manner the arrests were made.
Vanguard gathered that barely a month after the tragic stabbing to death of the youth leader, identified as Raymond Omobu by his estranged lover and the resultant attack on the Ikhiedhue-Egoro community by protesting Ujemen youths, the detachment of policemen led by some operatives of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), weekend, stormed the community to arrest youths suspected to be involved in the attack.
It was learnt that as early as 9:00 am on Friday, the detachment of armed policemen invaded the community and caught most of the youths and traders unawares.
It was gathered that the raid included the arrest of some house owners and mothers of the accused youths suspected to be on the run. The arrests caused panic in the community disrupting commercial activities and the flow of vehicular movements between the university town of Ekpoma and the area.
Some of the leaders of the community who spoke with Vanguard in Benin City at the weekend confirmed the invasion and accused the police authorities of engaging in indiscriminate arrests and causing fear among their people.
According Pa Okhiria, "the situation in our area is pathetic. How can the Police be arresting women and children and accuse them of involvement in the burning of houses few kilometres away?"
When Vanguard visited the area, the presence of some Policemen was noted, while the community looked deserted and a few of those found around were not so comfortable.
Some of the traders at the Ujomen market told Vanguard that the glooming atmosphere was caused by the presence of Policemen and the arrest of the people.
When Vanguard visited the Irrua Command of the Area, the Area Commander was reportedly out of town and the Divisional Police Officer of the Area asked Vanguard to get confirmation from the State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Peter Ogboi in Benin City, but was told he was out of the state on duty.
A source at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) told Vanguard that the arrest was done in a legal manner and followed due procedure in such cases.