Police arrest 4 officers for killing vigilante member in Edo

The Edo State Police Command has arrested four operatives of the command and a couple over their alleged involvement in the killing of a vigilante member in the state.

The police operatives were alleged to have killed the deceased, identified simply as Aikpitanyi, at Ikponwonsa Aikpitanyi, Obaze Street in Benin, the Edo State capital.

The 27-year-old victim, a member of the local vigilante group in Benin, was said to have been shot dead on Friday night by one of the police operatives for allegedly preventing a woman, Rose Sunday, from dumping refuse in a moat in the neighborhood.

The incident was confirmed via a statement issued and made available to The Star on Tuesday by the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Kontongs Bello.

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He stated that the detained operatives were “Inspr. Igere Victor, Sgt. Umhenin Stanley, Sgt. Okongor Ojong and Cpl. Monday Joel while the arrested couple was identified as Mr. & Mrs. Sunday Egboh.”

Bello noted that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Abutu Yaro, received the news with great shock and described the action of the officers as unacceptable and unprofessional.

“He said the command under his watch will not condone acts of misconduct that are inimical to the peace and safety of law abiding citizens of Edo State,” the police spokesperson stated.

The Star