Okpebholo Orders Probe Into Killing Of 7 Suspected Kidnappers In Edo

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has condemned the killing of seven suspected kidnappers by residents of a community in Uromi, Esan North-East local government area of the state.

Describing the act as barbaric and condemnable, the Governor represented by the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Government House, SP Solomon Osaghale, vowed to ensure that the perpetuators were brought to justice and made to face the full wrath of the law.

He stressed that such a barbaric act was strange in this clime, vowing that such will not be tolerated in the state.

SP Osaghale said he was in Uromi at the instance of the Governor to ascertain the level of damage done and to ensure that proper investigation is carried out to ensure justice and forestall a reoccurrence.

He revealed that investigations have shown that the people killed by the mob had boarded a commercial truck and were stopped by members of local security which discovered some guns with the victims after searching the vehicle, a situation that led to the mob attack by persons around the vicinity.

While condemning the act, he reinstated that nobody has the right to take another man’s life, stressing that the nature of the barbaric killing was a cause of concern to the Governor.

SP Oseghale said, “I can assure you that the people involved in this unprovoked attacked will not go scot -free, as His Excellency has directed the Commissioner of Police to launch a full scale investigation into the matter. As I speak now, over four persons have been arrested for their involvement in this ugly incidence.”

The CSO called for calm, while assuring the law abiding residents of Uromi, especially the Hausa Community in the area to go about their daily activities.

He assured that men of the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies have been deployed to restore peace and normalcy to the place.

Appreciating the Governor for his swift response, the leader of the Hausa Community in Uromi, Mallam Aliyu Haruna, thanked Governor Okpebholo for deploying the CSO and other security personnel to the community.

Mallam Haruna acknowledged that their presence has brought calm and reassurance to the Hausa Community in the area, as there was palpable fear and unease in their camp following the unfortunate incidence which he noted has never happened before in the local government.

“I must tell you that this is the first time a thing like this is happening in Uromi and it baffles me because, Uromi people have been so accommodating to us in the Hausa Community.

“Over the years, we have lived peacefully among the indigenes. Our sojourn in this land has spanned over seventy years. I was given birth to here, and so are many other people you are seeing here today,” Haruna said.