Attack on police station, communal clash claim 3 lives in Edo

Saturday, February 11, 2017 12:05 am

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

The police in Benin, Edo state, have confirmed the death of three persons who were reportedly killed in two separate incidents.

In first incident, a woman was reportedly killed by a stray bullet when suspected cultists attacked a police station at Ibillo, in Akoko-Edo local government area.

The suspected cultists were said to have successfully successfully successfully freed two of their colleagues who were detained for alleged rape and ran away with them.

The attackers were said to have gained access to the police station by posing as relatives of the arrested suspects when they started shooting sporadically.

The State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, who confirmed the incident, said it happened on February 2. He added that some suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.

He also disclosed that more men have been deployed to the affected police station to ensure such incident does not occur again.

“Two rapists were arrested at Ibillo and unknown to the police, the suspects were cultists. Their members went to the police station but the police did not know they were there to rescue their members.

“There was sporadic shooting and an innocent lady was hit and killed. Police are still mopping up the area. The area is a border town and we have influx of misguided elements,”‎ Gwandu said.

In the second incident, two persons were reported killed in a communal clash, while six other persons, including a policeman, were said to have sustained bullet wounds.

The incident occurred between Iguomo and Ikhuenbo communities in Uhunmwode local government area of the state.

The victims were identified as Osamudiamen Erhumwunse and Solomon Osayi, who were said to be from Iguomo.

The decomposing bodies of those killed, were reportedly recovered on Thursday from a river in the community, with one of them hung on a stick inside the river.

The two communities were said to be at loggerheads over boundary dispute since 1976.

Vice Chairman of Iguomo community, Stanley Osadiaye, who led a peaceful protest against the killings yesterday in Benin City, alleged that some militants have been stationed inside the disputed forest.

According to him, the killings took place on the 30th of January and that the bodies of the victims have been deposited at a mortuary.

Narrating how the incident happened, wife of one the victims, Augustina Osamudiamen, said her husband went to work as the bush inspector of the community but never came back.

The State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, while confirming the incident, said communal clash has become a cankerworm in parts of the state, adding that teenage youths in several community have turned land grabbers which often lead to clashes.