According to source, a member of
vigilance group in Obadolovbiyeyi community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government
Area of Edo State, Mr. Efe Igbnovia, has been shot
dead by soldiers.
The soldiers
were said to have released some herdsmen who were nabbed for armed robbery.
Witnesses
said the vigilance group had arrested some herdsmen for armed robbery along the
Benin-Abraka expressway and late Igbinovia was asked to watched over the
arrested herdsmen while went after other fleeing members of the gang.
The witness
said a group of armed men in military uniforms arrived in a Honda car marked AP
641 KTN and fired at Igbinovia after which they set the arrested suspects free.
A member of
the community, Mr. Henry Osemwengie, said that the vigilance group had earlier
arrested about six herdsmen for robbery and took to the Ugbekun police station.
Osemwengie
said, “Two of the herdsmen were caught. Igbinovia was asked to stay.
Before then,
the police had been called to come and pick them (herdsmen) because that is
what we normally do. Suddenly, a red Honda car with about four of them putting
on military uniforms carrying AK47 rifles came and started shooting.
“Igbinovia
shouted that he had been shot. When the other people (vigilantes) came back,
they discovered that Igbinovia was already down. They (armed men) killed him
and went away with two robbers. Robbers, most of whom are Hausa, usually
operate there. They keep their cows by the side, block the road and start
robbing.”
Cousin of
the deceased, Mr Onaghise Willson said his late brother was allegedly shot by
the men in military uniforms before taking some of the arrested armed herders
to the hospital for treatment.
Members of the
community however stormed the Benin Central hospital to mob some the arrested
suspects but were by the police.
State
commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr Makinde Iskil said
some persons have been arrested.
Commissioner
of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, who confirmed the incident said, “The herdsmen
were alleged to have blocked the expressway. Two of them are with the police
undergoing interrogation.
On the
alleged killing of the vigilante by armed men in military uniforms, Kokumo said,
“That is an allegation we are investigating. Actually, one of the vigilance
members died in the course of duty.”
Spokesperson
for the 4 Brigade Command of the Nigerian Army, Capt. Mohammed Maidawa, said
troop deplored to Ologbo for pipeline protection received a tip off from locals
closed to their location of suspected armed robbery activities.
He said the
troop mobilised to the scene and engaged armed men at the scene but
unfortunately one person who was later identified as member of the vigilante
was killed.
“Preliminary
investigation revealed that the vigilante group also response to a distress
call on the robbery operation.
The
vigilante started demonstration but the situation has been brought under
control,”
Source: http://www.nairaland.com/4348666/soldiers-kill-vigilante-man-edo
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