Metro

Bullet-Riddled Bodies Litter Benin Streets As Cult Clash Remains Unabated

Published

5 years ago

November 16, 2020

Wailings, pains, sorrows, fears and condemnations have continued to herald the ongoing gory killings by gun-toting hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSARS protest to unleash carnage on police and correctional facilities in Benin City on Monday, October 19, 2020.

Since then, bullet-reddled corpses have on daily basis lie in pools of blood in some streets and major roads in the state capital.

The rampaging gangsters in their number, at different times and locations have robbed, maimed or opened fire on their targets, brazenly.

Shops and POS operators offices as well as banks costumers who make use of the Automated Teller Machines (ATM) have not been spared by the miscreants.

Investigation revealed that the absence of police personnel in the public space may have encouraged the lawlessness as the hoodlums operate unchallenged across the City.

One of the victims of the bloody clashes

Jungle justice had reportedly be delivered on suspected criminals apprehended by locals who were allegedly not received when they took suspects to police stations in their domains.

Two armed robbery suspects set ablaze in Upper Sokponba road in Benin city recently is a reference.

Rival cult groups are now using the opportunity to unleash deaths on their perceived enemies.

The robberies, maiming and killings have been taken beyond the usual, leaving victims, most of whom are males in their prime, to die like flies on the streets of Benin City.

On Friday, November 13, 2020 about 2:22pm our reporter was called to Igbinaduwa junction area of Upper Siluko road, Benin City.

On arrival at the scene, a young man lied helpless on the walkway bleeding profusely from his bullet riddled neck.

Victim of the recent court clashes

He gasped fruitlessly for available oxygen which visibly escaped from his badly damaged arteries, shortly, he gave up.

His hitherto red blood suddenly became purple-coloured, with eyes widely opened, as residents and passersby thronged the scene, wailing

He was said to have been gunned down by a member of a gang who left the spot gallantly and unchallenged after the shooting.

Other victims reportedly killed in similar dastardly manner.

The fatality rate is over 34 as at Saturday, November 14, 2020, and its likely to increase owing to a very strong sense of impunity among the hoodlums.

The gunmen suspected to be cultists also dared the Nigeria Police Force when they waylaid and rained bullets on an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), in Benin City in the morning of Friday, November 13, 2020.

The officer, ACP Agabi Aboki Godiri is the Area Commander in charge of Benin metro.

He was immediately hospitalised after the shooting.

Last weekend the ACP was rumoured to have died from the bullet wounds.

Our reporter’s checks however revealed otherwise as he is fast recovery and may be discharged from the hospital, soon.

Further findings revealed that Upper Sokponba and Idogbo areas of the City are the epicentres of the violence as no fewer than eight casualties have been reported in the areas.

Among other areas that have been reportedly hit by the crisis are Ogida, Ikpoba hill, Siluko road, Evbomore, Mission road and Uselu.

Apparently disturbed by the incidents, residents have called on the Edo State government, police command and other security agencies in the state to intervene.

They appealed to the police to respect and obey their boss IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu who visited the state a fortnight ago to evaluate the level of damage done to police facilities as he eventually directed police personnel to return to duty post and defend themselves.

The Commissioner of police, Edo State CP Johnson Kokumo had during a chat with journalists assured that police would reclaim the public space.

He said the command would not allow hoodlums to take over the state officers and men of the command were working within existing limitations to restore normalcy to the state.

He also assured that all the criminals would soon be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrents to others.

(Nigerian Observer)

Metro

Police Confirm ‘Accidental’ Killing Of Inspector By 10-Year-Old Son

Published

11 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the death of a police inspector, Okolie Amechi, who was accidentally shot by his 10-year-old son.

It said that the incident occurred on Sunday evening.

It explained that the son, who was unaware of the state of the AK 47 assigned to Amechi, pulled the trigger and struck his father in the back.

The Command also said the the inspector’s second child was struck in the hand due to the accidental discharge.

“The Anambra State Police Command expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident that resulted in the death of Police Inspector Okolie Amechi in Awka.

“The son unaware of the state, of the AK 47 rifle assigned to the inspector, pulled the trigger and struck the inspector in the back and his second child in the hand,” a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, read in part.

It further noted that Amechi was confirmed dead at a hospital, adding that the rifle had been recovered.

“Regrettably, Inspector Amechi was taken to the hospital and was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty while the second victim is responding to treatment.

“Also, the rifle has been recovered and the remains of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue.

“The Command while wishing the second victim a quick recovery, condoles the family and friends of the late inspector.”

Metro

Boundary Dispute: One Killed, Four Injured As Protest Erupts In Edo Communities

Published

13 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Editor

One person has been reportedly killed and four others injured over a land dispute in Iyekogba, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

A youth leader, Frank Osamede Osagie, was reportedly shot dead and four others injured during a meeting between two communities – Aye and Ikpebo – all in Iyekogba – aimed at discussion a boundary dispute.

Taking protest to the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council on Monday, Bright Omoasuen, a leader of the Iyekogba communities said they had earlier petitioned the Inspector General of Police regarding the matter, just as he demanded the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the youth’s killing.

He, on behalf of other protesters, alleged that one Marvis Agbontaen who was suspected to have carried out the attack still goes around freely.

He disclosed that the killing occurred during a meeting meant to resolve a boundary dispute between two sections of the community—Aye and Ikpebo.

He said. “We hold our meeting two times a month and the elders hold theirs every Tuesday, and these have been on for the past 10 years. This is what we use to manage the peace of the community.

“But on the 4th of June, 2025, there was a boundary that was demarcated about seven years ago between Aye and Ikpebo.

“It was the youth leader of Ikpebo, Mr. Marvis Agbontaen, that brought the idea of demarcating the boundary, and we agreed to settle the boundary problem on the 4th of June. But on that day, we waited for Mr. Marvis Agbontaen to come for four hours, but we did not see him. Then the elders decided to postpone the meeting for the upper Monday.”

Omoasuen said the situation, however, took a violent turn after Mr Agbontaen arrived with his boys and started shooting.

“Then, what we saw was that he was coming with his car with his boys. We saw him disembark from the vehicle with AK-47 and he started shooting. Our brother, Mr. Frank Osamede Osagie, was killed instantly, while four others were injured. The four injured persons were treated in the police clinic,” he added.

He claimed this is not the first time such an attack occurred in the area.

He, therefore, called on the police authorities to take swift and decisive action.

“Even before this one in Iyekogba, it has been happening elsewhere. That is why we are here. We do not want to take laws into our hands. We don’t want this to continue. That is why we are here. Please, help us. We are pleading that the police should intervene,” they said.

Attempts made to contact the spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, SP Moses Yamu were not successful.

Metro

753 Duplexes: Abuja Court Admits Emefiele To N2bn Bail

Published

19 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Editor

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court on Monday admitted the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to bail in the sum of N2 billion in a fresh charge of property fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed an eight-count charge against him in respect of the disputed 753 duplexes in Abuja.

The said property located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, measures 150,462.86 SQM and comprises 753 housing units.

When the charge was read to him, he, however, pleaded not guilty.

Following his plea, his counsel, Mathew Burkaa SAN applied for bail, which was not opposed to by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN.

Oyedepo, however, asked the court to expunge some paragraphs in the bail application, and the court granted that.

Ruling on the bail application, Justice Halilu held that bail is a constitutional right.

He added that the defendant(Emefiele) has been granted bail by two other judges and he did not go against the conditions and terms

”I admit the defendant to bail on the terms and conditions that the defendant’s travel documents which is already before justice Muazu is hereby attached as part of the condition .

“The defendant shall provide two sureties who must be residents of Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court.

“The sureties must own landed property within the jurisdiction of this court precisely in Asokoro , Maitama and Wuse 2 which valued at N2 billion” he held

Halilu further ordered that the sureties shall also do undertaking to produce the defendant in court always
all through his trial .

He added in the event the defendant jumps bail, they (sureties) will be put in prison.

He ordered that the defendant is granted from now to Wed (June 18) to vacate the ball or else risk going to prison.

He then adjourned until July 11 for continuation.

The charge number: CR/358/2025, borders on alleged having control of property reasonably suspected to be unlawfully obtained.

The offence, the EFCC said, is punishable under Section 319 of the Penal Code Law.

Emefiele was charged alongside one “Ocheme” who is at large.

Besides the housing estate, the two defendants are also charged with unlawfully keeping in their possession billions of naira in proxy accounts in Zenith Bank.

In count one of the charge Emefiele and Ocheme are being accused of knowingly having within their control the housing estate suspected to be unlawfully obtained contrary to the law.

While in count two, they were alleged to knowingly have in their possession the sum of N167 million domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No: 1016232915, in count three they were alleged to have held the sum of N1.23 billion in the same account.

According to the anti-graft agency, the said sums were said to be reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.

In another count they were also alleged to have in their control another sum of N2.9 billion domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No: 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc.

In count five, the commission stated that the defendants between January and December 2022, knowingly had under their control the total sum of N1.98 billion domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No: 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.

In other counts they were also linked with the sum of N900 million and N600 million in Ifedigo Integrated Services’ account No: 1210750237 domiciled wit zenith Bank.

Meanwhile, in count eight, Emefiele was said to have in January 2021, forged a document titled, “Irrevocable Power of Attorney Between MG Properties Limited and H and Y Business Global Limited” with the intention of causing it to be believed that the said titled document was executed by or by the authority of H and Y Business Global Limited.

The offences, according to the EFCC, contravened the provisions of sections 319, 362 and 364 of the Penal Code.