FOUR policemen were feared killed on Friday in Edo State after a gun
duel that ensued between policemen and armed men, who abducted foremost
human rights lawyer and social critic, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN.
According to the Edo State Police Commissioner, Foluso Adebanjo,
Ozekhome was kidnapped along with his driver at the Ehor end of the
Benin-Auchi expressway at about 3:30 pm.
Providing details of how Ozekhome was abducted, Adebanjo said that
operatives of the state police command, led by the DPO of Ehor Division,
responded swiftly to a distress call at about 3:30pm that an
unspecified number of armed men had blocked the Benin-Auchi expressway
along Ehor axis but that the armed men ambushed the police patrol
vehicle and opened fire on the policemen.
Adebanjo said after a thorough search conducted on the abandoned
vehicle of the kidnapped victims, they were convinced that the abducted
persons were Chief Ozekhome and his driver, noting that some of the
kidnappers escaped with gun wounds.
He added, “regrettably, the command lost four officers in the
encounter. We salute their rare courage and bravery. They fought and
died as heroes for the cause of humanity. Their death shall not be in
vain. We remain undeterred in our fight against armed banditry.”
Speaking with journalists on phone, the Force Public Relations
Officers (FPRO), Frank Mba, told journalists that the Inspector General
of Police, M.D. Abubakar has directed the Commissioner of Police to
commence an immediate and vigorous manhunt for the hoodlums, who must be
arrested and brought to justice, and the kidnapped victims rescued.
“We therefore, once again, call on the general public not to relent
in their partnership with the police to fish out the criminals as they
are common enemy to our society and report anyone found with bullet
wounds to the nearest police station”, Mba appealed.
The kidnap of the eminent lawyer has brought to about 10 people
abducted in Edo State in the last two months, including five female
teachers and three children.
The Edo State Police Command had on Friday paraded three suspected
kidnappers who allegedly abducted three primary school teachers in the
state on July 30.
Meanwhile, Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, has pleaded with the
kidnappers to release the lawyer, noting that incident has drawn local
and international attention to the poor state of security in the
country.
“This is one kidnap too many and it further draws local and
international attention to the poor state of security in our country. It
also highlights the state of joblessness among youths in our country
which is one reason why they turn to this dangerous trade for their
livelihood.
“I want to personally appeal to the kidnappers or their sponsors (if
any), to kindly consider that Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN has a family that
rely on him, both nuclear and extended, and even other dependants in
the society. I also appeal to them not to harm him in anyway. In the
name of God that we all serve, they should please release him to
re-unite with his family.”
TRIBUNE
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
-
+5 Caught: The 36-year-old maid was caught on camera stuffing cash into her pockets and knickers A housekeeper h...
-
Seyi Gesinde reports the tragic death of Dr Myles Munroe, which occured aboard a plane which crashed while trying to land in The Baha...
-
A Magistrates’ Court in Minna yesterday sentenced a 26-yearold man, Rabiu Umaru, to four months’ imprisonment or N10,000 fine for house-br...
No comments:
Post a Comment