The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has urged security agencies in the state to reinforce the existing 10pm to 6am curfew imposed to check the activities of hoodlums and criminals following the hijack of the #EndSARS protests in the state.

Obaseki spoke on Friday when he received the General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Anthony Bamidele Omozoje, at the Government House, Benin City.

The visit was to inform the governor on plans by the military to embark on a seven-day heightened security operation to fish out criminal elements in the state.

The governor who thanked the Chief of Army Staff and other senior security officers for refusing to be compromised and ensured that Edo had a free, fair and credible election, said their actions have saved and sustained democracy in the State and Nigeria.

Obaseki said: “We have a subsisting curfew in Edo, which is being breached.

To support your seven-day heightened security effort, we are reinforcing the curfew from 10pm to 6am daily.

The town should be on lockdown and anyone found outside within this period should be dealt with according to the law.”

The governor said during the #ENDSARS protest, Edo was a hotspot, as hoodlums took advantage of the heightened anxieties surrounding the September 19 governorship election to cause mayhem.

Obaseki, who assured of the government’s support, thanked the commanding officer for the moves made, which he said would ensure normalcy is restored in the State ahead of the yuletide season.

He noted: “We will increase consultations with various stakeholders, traditional rulers, youth groups and religious leaders over the seven-day operation to sensitize them and solicit for their support, cooperation and information to help rearrest the fleeing inmates from our correctional centers.

“We have their data and we would commence flashing their names and pictures on social media, television stations and other media platforms.

We would release hotlines for citizens to call and give vital information to security agencies, especially information on those that have arms and ammunition in their custody”.

Speaking earlier, Major Omozoje said he is in the state to collaborate with other sister security agencies to see how to consolidate on the gains being made in curbing the rate of criminality witnessed after the EndSARS protests.

“We need to go actively after these criminals in order not to give them the liberty to operate.

The seven days heightened security operation will involve all security agencies to arrest criminals and recover arms and ammunition.”

He said the operation has been carried out in Osun, Kwara, Oyo, Ekiti and now Edo State, adding,

“We would establish fixed check points at very critical locations within the City.

“After the operation, an evaluation will be carried out to know the level of success.

We have men in Ibadan and Akure who are ready re-enforce our effort, if need be.

Earlier, Edo state commissioner of police,K Babatude reported thus:

Gentlemen of the press, the Command wishes to brief members of the public on some achievements made in the fight against crime and criminality since on the 28th of October, 2020 when the last press brief was held.

There have been hues and cries about security situation in the State which inadvertently shot up after the “EndSARS” protest.

This is not unconnected to the attack on police facilities and jail break wherein arms and ammunition were looted and prisoners set free respectively.

2. However, it is my joy to inform you that we are not folding our arms and watch the hoodlums have a field day.

Our main concern now, is geared towards re-arresting the escapees and recovering the looted and other illicit arms and ammunition in circulation.

To this end, the police and other security agencies in conjunction with the State Government put machineries in place to checkmate the activities of these rampaging hoodlums, which have yielded some positive results.

3. Highlighted below, are some of these modest achievements;

a. Arrest of Armed Robbers:

i. On 27/10/2020 at 1730hrs, one Sunday Ezekiel Ovie ‘m’ was arrested for allegedly robbing one Blessing Ebodaghe Ovbokhan ‘f’ of the sum of N400,000.00 at her POS stand, along Lucky Way Benin City. One locally made gun and seven live cartridges were recovered from him.

ii. On 30/10/2020 at about 0500hrs, two armed robbers named Ebijuoweri Igobiri ‘m’ and Isreal Moses (a.k.a. Bigman) ‘m’ were arrested for allegedly robbing traders of their wares at Ekenwan Village Market. One locally made gun, nine rounds of live cartridges, a battle-axe, cutlass and knife were recovered from them.

They equally shot and injured the boat owner, one William Ikporukp ‘m’ on his right leg.

iii. On 02/11/2020 at about 0745hrs, two armed robbers named Peter Osimen ‘m’ and Prince Osazuwa Eweka ‘m’, and others at large attacked and robbed one Gabriel Michael ‘m’ along Artillery Way, Oguola, robbed him of his phones and money.

One cut-to-size gun with two live cartridges were recovered from them.

iv. On 07/11/2020 at about 2100hrs, operatives on routine patrol responded to distress call, that armed men invaded Excellence Inn Hotel located at No. 1. Murtala Mohammed Way, Benin City, and arrested Fred David ‘m’, Kelechi Moses ‘m’ and Jackson Ogiugo ‘m’ with one locally made double barrel gun.

v. On 07/11/2020, one Idehen Amenze ‘m’ was arrested with one Toyota Yaris Saloon Car with registration number UBJ-447-SZ snatched from one Promise Ole ‘m’ by operatives of the Command.

The vehicle recovered and suspect currently in Police custody.vi. Security personnel on routine patrol arrested Andrew Francis ‘m’, David Okpebi ‘m’, Richard Igbinogun ‘m’, Egharevba Treasure ‘m’ and Ogbeifun Endurance ‘m’ at Oliha Market that attempted to rob one Mr. Chukwudi Okika ‘m’ of No. 53, Ehaekpen Street, off Siluko Road, Benin City.

One AK-47 rifle with breech No. 562514456, seventeen rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, three live cartridges, a black bag containing one phone, two wristwatches, two necklace, one access bank ATM card, one voter’s card belonging to Miss Okuku Inibehe Hilda and cash sum of N67,445.00 were recovered from them.

The suspects on interrogation confessed to have stolen the AK-4 rifle found in their possession from Oba Market Police Station and thereafter set it ablaze.

In addition, David Okpebi ‘m’, Richard Igbinigun ‘m’ and Egharevba Treasure were discovered to be part of the escapees from Oko Correctional Centre, Benin City during the “EndSARS” protest.

b. Arrest of Cultists:
Sixteen suspected cultists from different secret cult confraternities were arrested at different locations within the state for engaging in cult related activities, murder, vandalism, armed robbery and disturbance of public peace.i. Uhunoma Godwin Aghahowa ‘m’
ii. Owen Sunday `m’
iii. Ogunsuyi Osamediamen
iv. Aliu Emmanuel `m’
v. Osaze Idemudia `m’
vi. Farouk Jackson `m’
vii. John Enobakhare `m’
viii. Mathew Iregbenyen `m’
ix. Balogun Clement `m’
x. Idemudia Iginedion `m’
xi. Friday Idemudia `m’
xii. Frank Ajogun `m’
xiii. Eric Osahon `m’
xiv. Junior John `m’
xv. Goodluck Pama `m’
xvi. Celestine Ojo `m’The following items were recovered from them.
Two cut to size guns
Three live cartridges
One Toyota Highlander SUV Reg. No. DGE-524-AH.
c. Recovery of Arms:
One AK-47 rifle with breech No. 15671 was recovered at a location along Ehakpaen Street, Benin Cityd. Re-Arrested Escapees:
A total of eighteen suspects who eloped from the two correctional centres as a result of the jail break during the End SARS protest have been re-arrested.

S/N NAME SEX OFFENCE
1 Uwa Uyi Male Armed Robbery
2 Oluwatosi Adelayo Male Armed Robbery
3 Precious Omose Male Armed Robbery
4 Moses Osamudiamen Male Murder
5 Osarumen Noragon Male Armed Robbery
6 Godspower Musa (Porpori) Male Armed Robbery
7 David Opkebe Male Armed Robbery
8 Treasure Egharevba Male Armed Robbery
9 Jackson Godwin Male Armed Robbery
10 Uyi Osayande Male Unlawful Assembly/Cultism
11 Osaro Anthony Male Cultism
12 Chima Ezi (Ezinna) Male Armed Robbery
13 Endurance Ifebhor Male Armed Robbery
14 Abraham Matthew Male Armed Robbery
15 Henry Atadi Male Cultism
16 Osayi Iyase Male Stealing
17 Unity Agbonifo Male Stealing
18 David Junior Male Rape4. Conclusively, as we approach the yuletide season, the Police will not rest on its oars until all the arms and ammunition carted away by the hoodlums are recovered and escapees are equally rearrested. The criminal elements themselves will not know peace.

SUMMARY
1. No. of Suspects Arrested for Armed Robbery – 14
2. No. of Suspects Arrested for Cultism – 16
3. No. of Suspects Arrested for Escape from Lawful Custody – 18
TOTAL NO. OF SUSPECTS ARRESTED – 48EXHIBIT(S) RECOVERED
1. Two (2) AK 47 rifles
2. Four (4) locally made guns
3. One (1) Toyota Yaris Saloon car with Reg No. UBJ-447-SZ
4. One (1) Toyota Highlander SUV Reg. No. DGE-524-AH.
5. Twenty one (21) live cartridges

Credit: Nigeria Police Force, Edo State Command and Government House, Edo State

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