CP Abutu Yaro, Commissioner of Police, Edo State Police Command
* Police arrest 3 suspects
By Jon Egie
The police in Edo State have unravelled a ritual shrine with 20 dead mum bodies at Ekenhuan Road, Benin City.
The discovery followed credible information at the Edo State Police Command’s disposal, yesterday, that some corpses were lying in a building along Asoro slope off Ekenhua Road, Uzebu quarters,Benin city.
Operatives of the Command immediately swung into action and mobilized to the scene.
At the scene, 3 suspects, Chimaobi Okoewu ‘M’ and Oko Samuel ‘M’ both of Afikpo in Ebonyi and Gideon Sunday ‘M’ of Akwa-Ibom State were arrested while others fled.
15 mummified male corpses, 3 mummified female corpses and 2 mummified children corpses were discovered at the scene.
“Consequently, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Abutu Yaro, fdc, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of state CID to carry out a discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the discovered corpses and therefore enjoins the general public to be calm as the command will continue to ensure the safety of all law-abiding citizens and those residing in Edo state.” A statement issued by the Command’s DPPRO, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu said, adding that an intensive effort was ongoing to arrest the other fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile, Operatives of the Command shot and killed a member of an armed robbery gang that engaged the police in a gunfight in Ekpoma.
On Monday, August 5, the gang, at about 0330hrs, numbering 5 while invaded Mandela hostel, at Gabriel Street, Ihumudumu, Ekpoma but were intercepted by Operatives of the Command attached to Ekpoma Divisional headquaters and a team of vigilantes following a distress call.
On sighting the team of Operatives, the robbers opened fire on the police which led to a gunfight, but not being able to withstand the superior firepower of the police, they scampered for safety with various degrees of bullet injuries.
However, one of the hoodlums who was later identified as Emmanuel Johnson ‘M’ about 24yrs old, was neutralized during the gunfight .
According to a police statement, the following items were recovered from the deceased armed robber and his fleeing gang.
* One locally made cut-to-size single barrel gun
* Five (5) live cartridges
* Four (4) expended cartridges
* One Laptop
Frantic effort was ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang. The statement added.
